- First described
- 2023
- Type
- single clone genetic color form
- Cultivar
- 'Like Alpine Farms'
Cultivated descendant of the genetic RED color form documented at the wild Alpine Farms population in Del Norte Co, CA. Mike's working label distinguishes these from the named wild site itself. The 2023 photos (post #45, thread 673) provide direct evidence that the red trait is genetic, not environmental — the front rows are 'like alpine farms' reds, the back rows are Rattlesnake Creek green form, and everything else (soil, temp, light, nutrients, water, airflow) is identical.
Standout traits
- Genetically RED color form — solid red bodies expressed under outdoor cultivation when fall arrives (Mike, post #45 of thread 673, 2023-11-21)
- Direct cultivation proof of genetic basis: red plants grown side-by-side with green Rattlesnake Creek plants under identical conditions (soil, temperature, light, nutrients, water, airflow) — only the reds colored up consistently
- Stefan Barth's independent cultivation test (2024) confirms the same effect with green plants reportedly grown under identical conditions
- Spring/summer color is similar to green forms; fall color is the diagnostic
- Indoor LED with anthocyanin-maximized spectrum drives solid color year-round
Cultivation
- Cool-soil obligate — soil ≤75°F at all times.
- Outdoor culture: red color expresses fully only in fall.
- Indoor anthocyanin-maximized LED spectrum or greenhouse can hold solid color year-round.
- Smaller plants more heat-tolerant than mature plants.
Photos (6)
Naming
"Like alpine farms" — Mike's working label for cultivated reds carrying the same genetic red trait as the wild Alpine Farms site.