CULTIVAR NAME:

Borneo Giant

CLASSIFICATION:

• Species:Hibiscus sabdariffa

  • Variety: Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa

    • Race: Ruber

      • Cultivar: CV. Borneo Giant

BREEDER

Kyle Barker. Formosa Environments Co., Ltd.

STATUS

Released to market 2020

GENETICS:

Maternal Parent: Bornean Variety || Paternal Parent: Bornean & Taiwan Varieties

Followed by line breeding 3 years.

DESCRIPTION

Borneo Giant started off with genetics from Sarawak Borneo. Seeds were imorted and bred with Taiwanese ruber race types. Selections for size and inbreeding has been ongoing since then.

Borneo Giant is characterized by its large size and recognized by its geographical roots with its longer growing season. Plants reach up to 4 meters and are loaded with calyces. Calyx is bred for color of a bright medium red and size, up to 10cm in length. Flavor is less sour than many varieties and has an ideal color for food coloring. This cultivar is also developed for the vegetable market with its leaves being well suited in salads as well as making a well regarded herbal tea when dried.

CULTIVAR GOAL

The goals of this variety was enhanced flavor and reduced sourness of the calyx while enlarging the size and improving the color for potential food dye purposes. Due to the longer growing season and mild sourness, leaf development was also included to enhance the edibility of the leaf as a raw vegetable via reducing sourness and also allowing drying to produce better quality product for herbal teas. The ornamental value was not included into the breeding program, however it has produced a very robust, large plant with heavy fruiting capabulity making it not only incredibly favourable for commercial production but also quite attractive for the horticultural industry as well.

APPLICATIONS

Food dye, Enlarged Calyx for fresh, preserve & dry market, Leaf Tea & Leaf Vegetable. Ornamental value due to tall size and heavy calyx load.

AVAILABILITY

Currently sold as prepared products by Spice Chasm (leaf and calyx, fresh, dried and powdered). Seed sold wholesale to the USA & Taiwan where retail sellers offer seeds to the public.

CULTIVAR NAME:

Thai Elephant

CLASSIFICATION:

• Species:Hibiscus sabdariffa

  • Variety: Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa

    • Race: Ruber

      • Cultivar: CV. Thai Elephant

BREEDER

Kyle Barker. Formosa Environments Co., Ltd.

STATUS

Released to market 2019

GENETICS:

Maternal Parent: Thai Variety || Paternal Parent: Taidong #2

Followed by line breeding.

DESCRIPTION

CULTIVAR GOAL

Early to mid season open type dark calyces with good marketability of leaves as a dried tea.

APPLICATIONS

Food dye & Leaf Tea.

AVAILABILITY

Currently sold as prepared products by Spice Chasm (leaf and calyx, fresh, dried and powdered). Seed sold wholesale to the USA & Taiwan where retail sellers offer seeds to the public.

CULTIVAR NAME:

Mottled

CLASSIFICATION:

• Species:Hibiscus sabdariffa

  • Variety: Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa

    • Race: Ruber x Albus

      • Cultivar: CV. Mottled

BREEDER

Kyle Barker. Formosa Environments Co., Ltd.

STATUS

Unavailable. Currently stabilizing.

EARLIEST RELEASE:

2023

GENETICS:

Maternal Parent: CV. Taidong #3|| Paternal Parent: CV. Crystal & CV. Borneo Giant F1

DESCRIPTION

Mottled is a cross between ruber and white albus varieties. As of yet it is not stabilized. Goals are for a variegated, white and red, calyx without bringing in bhagalpuriensi or intermedius genetics which tend to make the calyx too sour.

CULTIVAR GOAL

White and red calyx without the harsh sour tones from the other 2 races of this variety. Aiming at a medium sized, closed type calyx, preferably an early flowering plant.

APPLICATIONS

Fresh calyx market & ornamental.

AVAILABILITY

As of yet, not stable.

CULTIVAR NAME:

Variegated (So far unamed)

CLASSIFICATION:

• Species:Hibiscus sabdariffa

  • Variety: Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa

    • Race: Ruber

      • Cultivar: CV. Variegata (Temporary name)

BREEDER

Kyle Barker. Formosa Environments Co., Ltd.

STATUS

Unavailable

GENETICS:

Maternal Parent: CV. Borneo Giant|| Paternal Parent: F1 x CV. Crystal & F2 x Bhagalpuriensi

DESCRIPTION

An amazing discovery in our test plot of Borneo Giant seed bearing plants, this lone variegated plant showed up in 2020. As yet untested and unknown if stable or genetic, but very exciting to say the least!

CULTIVAR GOAL

Large variegated plant, ideal for the horticulture market. Given the parents' qualities, once variegation is stabilized, variegated pink calyx will be the ultimate goal for culinary aesthetically pleasing calyces.

APPLICATIONS

Landscape, horticulture and culinary garnish.

AVAILABILITY

N/A