Optimara Little Violet Sapphire

Violet Sapphire has a star-shaped flower, meaning all 5 petals are the same length. The flower color is NOT the color shown on the Optimara website. That has caused a lot of confusion.

If you look at the picture from Optimara (see link above) you will see long, narrow petals and a group of pollen anthers in the center. I am still looking for a true-blooming Violet Sapphire.

Photos by Candy

Here is an example of a mislabeled Jewel.

This plant was given to me and labeled "Violet Sapphire". It is NOT V.S., but just a slightly bluer Ruby. Previously I has submitted this photo to FC2 and then requested it be removed. Since then, the owner of the true picture (link to the photo used below) submitted a photo to replace it.

What's going on!?!?!?!?!?!

I was given a tiny plant labeled Violet Sapphire, but it isn't true. I set leaves and this is what I got! BELLS, and two different colors. On the left, the same color as the parent but the flower refuses to open all the way. On the right, white with purple-red centers, which also seem to be bells (but not Opal). It blooms this way every time. I'm growing it out 3 generations to see if it remains true.

Here is the Violet Sapphire flower shape:

See a photo of a true blooming Optimara Violet Sapphire
See another true Opt. Violet Sapphire

Update on the plants above - 7/12/09

The "bell" on the left did not continue to bloom as a bell. The plant on the right is stable. Generation 2 is in bloom now, also stable. Leaves down of generation 2 are putting up babies, which will be generation 3.