It may just be my perspective but growing/cultural requirements to me mean something very different than attributes specific selections within the same species may offer. That's where you get down to cultivar level and make assessments on which cultivar/selection may work best for you. For example, 'Arp' may be one of the hardiest forms of rosemary but it still has the same basic cultural requirements as any other cultivar -- a need for full sun, well-draining, lean soil and minimal water (once established) and fertilizing. But maybe rosemary is not the best example as it is pretty much a single species genus (there is a another species but extremely uncommon in gardens or in distribution). Let's look at euphorbias, a genus with literally hundreds of species. Each species of euphorbia can (and most do) have very different growing requirements from other euphorb species, but within the same species the growing/cultural requirements will be virtually identical. Some cultivars may grow larger than others, some may produce larger/smaller flower heads or of slightly different coloring, some might even offer increased cold tolerance but the growing conditions - soils, water, light, nutrient demand, etc. will be the same. And that's where I disagree with the statement mindy (or her source) posed initially: "LIKE ALL PLANTS WITHIN THE SAME FAMILY OR SPECIES, Xanthosomas are all individuals and some can be used as bog plants, where others will simply decline and rot." To be more accurate, I'd change that statement to read: "like many plants within the same family or even genus, each species of Xanthosomas is unique: some can be used as bog plants while others will simply decline and rot under similar conditions." To be perfectly honest, if I were to read that statement without any preamble or mindy's intro to it, I would tend to interpret it exactly the same way as I wrote it -- unless you are a professional horticulturist or botanist, I doubt you make the distinctions between the various levels of plant morphology and understand what the writer was trying to say. Us geeky types tend to get hung up on the semantics but I understand the point the writer was attempting to get across regardless of the exact terminology :-) Actually, I think flora summed up the entire discussion very nicely: After all we are all the same species, just different cultivars. If you think about it, each individual offers something unique but we all share the same basic needs.

Lilies are divided into several Divisions. But when it comes to selecting Lilies for your garden, there are five groups that are the most popular and widely grown. 1) Asiatic Lilies Considered the most colorful and earliest to bloom, Asiatic Lilies originate from Asian species that have been bred to produce a wide array of color, shapes and forms. Modern day hybrids typically aren't fragrant, but those still closely related to the original species often have a light scent. Asiatics range from stout 1 ft. plants to fairly tall 5-6 footers. Bloom times range from late spring to midsummer, depending on variety. 2) Trumpet/Aurelian Lilies Probably the grandest and tallest of the Genus, this class of lilies are known for their towering (often up to 8 ft. tall!) stems of heavy scented trumpet shaped flowers. The familiar Easter Lily falls into this division. Easily raised from seed, most bulb companies offer seed grown strains that all closely resemble each other and share the same name; only a selected few are reproduced asexually (see "How do you propagate Lilies?"). Trumpets bloom in midsummer. 3) Oriental Lilies The Queen of late summer flowering plants! Orientals have come a long way from the original Japanese species Lilium Auratum and Lilium speciosum var. rubrum. Today's hybrids are much more larger, come in a variety of spectacular colors and forms. Many of us are familiar with the florist favorite 'Stargazer' and 'Casablanca.' These two set the standard of Oriental Lilies long ago, yet they still are perennial favorites. Probably the most admired characteristic of Orientals is their spicy, sweet perfume! Often overpowering to some, but a single bloom can fill a room with fragrance! Orientals range from 1-2 ft. dwarfs to 7 ft. immense giants blooming anywhere from midsummer and some carrying through to early fall. There are several earlier blooming cultivars as well making it possible to enjoy their color and fragrance throughout the summer. 4) Interspecific Hybrids Now that we've covered the three basic classes of garden lilies, it's time to take it to the next level and introduce hybrids between them that have recently been introduced to the market. Due to advanced breeding techniques, hybridizers have been able to cross lilies that normally wouldn't be compatible with each other. The work has resulted in some of the finest lilies ever created! Significant improvements in flower quality such as substance and color, vigor, heat tolerance and disease resistance have been made. These hybrids include: The LA Hybrids (Longiflorum (Easter Lily) x Asiatics), The Orienpets (Oriental x Trumpets), The Asiapets (Asiatics x Trumpets), and crosses involving Orientals and Asiatics have been developed. This is, by far, the most exciting group of lilies to grow! 5) The Species For the ultimate purist, nothing rivals the natural beauty of lilies as you'd find them growing in the wild. Far from the modern day hybrids we're all familiar with, there are several Lilium species that have proven themselves garden worthy. Often temperamental under cultivation, many wild lily species adapt well and add charm to any garden scheme. The key to success is trying to recreate conditions of their natural habitat (proper exposure, drainage, etc.) and obtaining well grown, disease/virus free bulbs and plants.

Fantasy violets with spots or streaks of color on the flowers have a tendency to revert to a solid color. Once this happens, it is usually permanent. I have seen it happen to a few of my violets. It is more common for a pink fantasy to revert to solid purple than to turn only pink. Thumbprint flowers are usually mostly white in winter (cooler temps) and can be produce mostly solid color flowers in warmer temps. Ideal temp for them is around the 70s. White or green-edged flowers can also vary with temperature. They usually look better in cooler temps and the edges are less pronounced in warmer weather.

Just saying as I am looking at these named adeniiums I dont seem to like them. Dont care for the look of them and the double blooms. Was just commenting that I dont like those kind of adeniums. Lots have commented on how they like them, I was just commenting on how I was not a fan. Like we have both mentioned already, to each their own. World would be boring if we all liked the same stuff.