The environment will play a role since it is not always simply enough to have the genes for cristation/cresting to be able to show it. In the case of 'Sanibel Coral' I suspect that it inherited the genetic predisposition to show cresting from 'Old Field Wishful Thinking'
Sanibel Coral (Rood-T., 2008) height 37 in.(94 cm), bloom 5 in.(13 cm), season La, Dormant, Tetraploid, Coral pink with dark coral pink watermark above yellow to green throat. (Bermuda Coral × Old Field Wishful Thinking)
Old Field Wishful Thinking (Mason-M., 2004)
height 26 in.(66 cm), bloom 6 in.(15 cm), season La, Dormant, Tetraploid, 25 buds, 4 branches, Cream pink blend with gold wire edge above gold to green throat. (unknown × unknown)
Although the parentage of 'Old Field Wishful Thinking' is not provided, Mason registered two daylilies with 'Seminole Wind' as one of the parents.
Seminole Wind (Stamile, 1993)
height 23 in.(58 cm), bloom 6.5 in.(17 cm), season EM, Rebloom, Semi-Evergreen, Tetraploid, Fragrant, Pink self with green throat. ((Love Goddess × Crush on You) × Tet. Barbara Mitchell)
Seminole Wind is in the ancestry of several crested daylilies and that cresting is at least partly derived from the tet conversion of 'Barbara Mitchell'.
