Will the real 'Fred's Redhead' please step forward

[iann]

I've struggled over the years to grow The original red L. lesliei cultivar 'Fred's Redhead' Germination has been very poor and the results not always red.

My first attempt produced only one somewhat red plant, and it browns out strongly in summer which is a known issue with all except the very best individuals. It is here on the right, looking more red than a typical L. lesliei, but less red than I could hope. Above it is another attempt, which has a better colour and survives the summer sun better. It was the only seedling that germinated in that batch, but I'm fairly comfortable that it now deserves the name.

The pot of double-headers are var rubrobrunnea, you don't have to grow cultivars to have nice colours. The others are the so-called 'Fred's Redhorn', hybrids between a good 'Fred's Redhead' and var hornii. For reasons that escape me, other than the skill of Steven Hammer, they are vigorous, uniformly strong red, and if anything get brighter red in the sun.

[sechjoh]

A lot of different red plants

[ralphrmartin]

I think I prefer var rubrobrunnea, and 'Fred's Redhorn', myself.

[FredG]

I like the one with the big open windows whatever that is.

[iann]

I like the one with the big open windows whatever that is.

Homebrew L. lesliei var rubrobrunnea, bred for red colour and big dark windows. Maybe I should just grow L. aucampiae instead of going to all this trouble?

[FredG]

...... Maybe I should just grow L. aucampiae instead of going to all this trouble?

Surely a lot of the fun is in the mystery of what will really appear?

[ralphrmartin]

Homebrew L. lesliei var rubrobrunnea, bred for red colour and big dark windows.

Where do you live? I might come and rummage through your bin...

[iann]

Homebrew L. lesliei var rubrobrunnea, bred for red colour and big dark windows.

Where do you live? I might come and rummage through your bin...

I'm not good at throwing out even the most obvious failures ...

[Diane]

These are my two plants of Lithops hornii x ‘Fred’s Redhead’ F2 from the MSG seedlist some years ago. Nice and red - good enough for me!

Lithops hornii x ‘Fred’s Redhead’ F2

[Terry S.]

These last plants are the ones that have acquired the non-established cultivar name of 'Fred's Redhorn'