I've heard a lot of the luminatas tend to be a bit weaker growers.. Nice to see that 'Silent Wings' is doing so well for you.
I got a bunch of luminatas last year, so most have not bloomed yet... I did had an autumn bloom out of 'Moonlit Sea'... which it is not supposed to do.. Click on the picture, and you can really see the glow on the style arms..
The TB lumis were developed in a warmer climate in much of the country so the parents did not have 'hardiness' in the background. As soon as the trait comes out hidden in more plants, they will do better in cold areas. Since I don't breed TBs I could not tell which background plants to use. The current hybridizers will do so.
Montmartre seems to grow well here. Elizabethan Age was reported to be a bit tender. Grow whatever works in your climate. SDBs have the mountain pumila plants in their background & are used to obtain IBs. When the northern breeders get the pattern those will be hardy. Trouble is everyone seems to be moving to Oregon. :
Looks like a few of us have EA. It grows well for me and increases. I divided the first clump after 3 years and spread it around. We can get pretty cold here. Although, you wouldn't know it from this winter. It's been unseasonably mild.
Most of my luminatas are new, so I won't know how they do until spring. Montmartre has been a reliable bloomer, but I moved last summer, so I shall see if it likes it's new home.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
