Ness fantasy gold is so pretty

Alabama, A discussion of yellow took place on this forum about 2 years ago. If I recall, a few people were trying them and a list was published here. However, true yellow is a very recent development. So don't go by the name unless it is a fairly recent introduction by LLG.

Yellow in nature comes from whatever the chemicals are in nature's reds, which are completely lacking in AVs.

Jeff Smith wrote an article, Optimara was developing a yellow, and so were the hybridizers at Lyndon Lyon. I suggest you study the LLG website and select all the varieties that claim to be yellow. There are only 4 or 5. Try them all. The yellow is a bit of an optical illusion and genetically very complicated.

There are supposedly Russians that are true yellow. But last I looked, not available in the U.S.

A friend of mine is pursuing yellow. I did a research report on the development of yellow for her. It was very long because of the length of time hybridizers have been trying and various approaches of the scientific community.

As I recall, one approach was to start with a violet that has green, which is a natural color and vigorous, and lighten it with a white cross. Requires less genetic manipulation. The other is to start with a white, which is already the product of genetic splicing and dicing, and add in some characteristics of red, which is the product of much tinkering.

A third approach is to splice in a gene from a non-AV plant that does carry the actual chemical make-up of true yellow. I am not sure if the non-AV plant selected for the Frankenstein experiment was a gesneriad.

By the way, if a white reverts to blue, as you know, it is expressing great grandpa, Big Blue.

I grew out a few that were advertised as yellow-appearing or else given to me. They were mostly white. Some had a yellowish tint. Others had nicer, fuller blooms that had light pink or blue center rays.

My friend likes Warm Sunshine by LLG and another with the word Lemon in the name, also by LLG. That company is probably the leader in the scientific development of yellow.

The violets grown to be yellow tend to be small singles because the scientists are focusing on color. The results tend to be murky.

The ones that are prettier and fluffier are less yellow, more white with rays. The yellow pollen reflected on the white with a pale pink center ray looks yellow if you squint. It is attractive.

I think Golden Autumn is a good choice. Closer to the actual yellow that LLG is working on.

Personally, I enjoy double whites in AVs. And the yellow roses in my garden!

My info is not current, so something may have developed in the past year.

Joanne

Ukrainian RS- Firebird (Zhar-Ptica) every so often puts streaks of intense yellow. Depends on a time of the year. The plant is large and crunchy, large blossoms ... have uneven petals, kind of the same way as Ness Fantasy Gold has.

I would say - it is more in the category of "interesting", not beautiful.

It is an early attempt at yellow!

I like interesting rather than perfection. Just like real life.

Golden Autumn will show more yellow with age. My photo was taken a few days after they opened. Later, the yellow was more pronounced. It appears to be rather delicate and bruise more easily than the other two, like Golden Threads did when I grew it years ago.

Harmony's Cotton Candy isn't showing much yellow yet, but I do like the blue flowers just the same. Ness Fantasy Gold is my youngest of the three. I am excited it has bloomed so young, since I purchased it as a plug. Moreover, I grew Golden Coins in the past, but don't recall it having much yellow. It seemed sturdy enough.

Jolly Sunchaser is another possibility. Sounds like you have good experience.

Also, Mellow Yellow. My plant was a dull, pale color. The person who gave me the leaf I grew from had a more clear cream-pale yellow color.

Many yellows tend to prefer lower light levels, less fertilizer and slightly lower temps for the color to develop well. I think they are really neat to grow.

I grow Senk's Alchemy Morning Star... and once a year it shows decent yellow... the rest of the time.. the pee of the poor orphan... cream at best.

Hilarious

Haha -- another Irina-witticism!

The best yellow I got is Optimara MySunshine. I gave away my Ness Fantasy Gold. I didn't see any yellow, and the flowers are so small.

MySunshine

is a good plant. The color changes from yellowish cream - to greenish yellow tinted depending on the season. Easy to grow, shapes itself, keeps the blossoms for long time.

Ness Fantasy Gold... blooms in rare spurts, keeps the blossoms for long time, slow grower. If the bloom happens when the season is JUST right - you will have yellow streaks.

The rest of the year... nope.

"the pee of a poor orphan". That cracks me up!

Need to give that orphan some yellow fdc #5.

Irina, Do I detect an Optimara convert? Joanne looking puzzled

I appreciate the dark leaves and fantasy flowers of Ness' Fantasy gold and will keep it. Mine did not seem reluctant to bloom and it is a young plant. Even though not much yellow, it holds the flowers well above the foliage. So many hybrids have lovely flowers and the blossom stems (penduncles) grow sideways instead. :-/ I have not seen mySunshine in person, but will consider growing it, as it looks cool. :-)

So far - we have creamy yellow varieties - MySunshine, Golden Autumn. Lemon Kisses etc, - and the ones with yellow streaks - N.Fantasy Gold, etc.

I bet we can have one of each type in our collections. But they should be good plants - and what is good plant for me - not necessary good plant for Jeff in FL or Joanne in CA. Just the presence of yellow is not the reason to keep it.

Regarding MySunshine - it is a good plant - and I tried it... and liked it ... and passed it on. For purely commercial reasons - it is an easily available plant. You can get it from Selective Gardener anytime.

In repotting I found Mellow Yellow. Seems to be a small standard. Frilly leaves. Not blooming at the moment.

I agree, Irina, it is nice to get a new Opti release of a novelty item then eventually pass it on. The next person is grateful.

I found a Jersey Snowflakes on my shelves with a touch of powdery mildew. (It figures, since it is from NJ!) I will treat it and segregate it. Otherwise, it is a robust plant. When it blooms again, will be second time.

Finally, although this belongs on the mosaic thread, I'll tag along here. My pink mosaic plants tend to develop a second crown that is so tight next to the main crown, it can't safely be removed. The parent plant is ready to bloom again. The secondary crown I removed from it did not survive. Now it sprouted another second.

I tend not to notice these because of the busy foliage. Also, I tend not to closely observe until ready to bloom.

All the rings of new leaves on both crowns are not variegated. I will just freshen it and let it be. Joanne

Some growers believe that if the plant started developing second crowns, even if you remove it - it will continue doing it.

You are always reassuring! I posted a photo on another thread

I had double crowns before - and in my experience you take one out - and the plant straightens up. And it is not passed through leaves.

On the other side - I had plants developing cresting - couple of time on different trailers - they stop blooming and just grow new stems attached to one another forming the glued together structure like a crest of the mountain. This mutation is is something you do not want to continue. Off they went.

That helps. I knew there had to be a name for it. I do not propagate it. I enjoy it for its own sake. It is not a popular AV. I never heard of anyone else growing it. As always, thanks!

A pretty R with curly yellow edges on fancy blooms Ebay today. And also LLG Lemon Whip. My friend grew that. She liked it.

Love growing green-flowered violets! Many years ago, Green Lace was one of my favorites. I believe, it was a LLG hybrid. Ruffles 'N laces was one too, but the foliage was heavily ruffled and unmanageable. Right now I have Sassy Sister (LLG) and it is a nice dark pink with green edges. Also Mermaid Kiss, a Russian Hybrid. Ma's Frog Land is coming into bloom now; it is variegated with white flowers and green edges. On some green ones, the flowers last a very long time!

I don't have any purple or blue Russian violets yet with crinkled green edges. I did however grow Windy Day many years ago. Dark ruffled foliage with heavily fringed purple flowers. The green was not as pronounced as I had hoped for and it had a neck problem, but it was beautiful. I am not sure if it is the current trend, though I have seen several photos of new Russian hybrids online. I would suggest growing mostly plants that are matched with the average grower's difficulty level. For a public sale, primarily easy to grow plants would be better. Perhaps more unusual novelties and delicate varieties for an club-only event? In my experience many variegates tend to be slower growing, but worth the effort. Most people new to violets, however, could be frustrated by the special growing requirements (not too much fertilizer, etc), so more green-leaved varieties would help them become confident growers in my opinion.

Spring Rose is my favorite green violet so far -- and one of the few that I have right now that I would 100% want to replace if I ever lost it.

I have a young plant of Wild Irish Rose that may give it a run for its money, however. We will see...