DADDY DEAREST moved our red breeding program into a whole new dimension, with large, clear, deeply saturated, velvety reds. An enormous break in red breeding, anxiously awaited by many hybridizers and a must for any red breeding program. The plant habit is dormant allowing for nice clean blue green foliage especially in the early spring. Plants are hardy and increase modestly in our zone 6 garden. With Larry’s Twilight Bite in its lineage , those looking to breed for teeth won’t want to miss this stunning velvety red. Named to honor my father in law , a man with a big heart.

     The large 7” Flowers of DADDY DEAREST are a rich and very dark velvety blood red. The color is remarkably saturated. The flowers have a darker current red eye and a green chevron throat. The heavily ruffled petals are edged in a white wire edge displaying miniature white teeth. The flowers are easily fertile both ways, and the plants are cold hardy and have very good rust resistance. The tall, beautifully branched scapes have 3 laterals plus top branching.