Cultivars from Tetraploid Lines of Hoodia gordonii
Introduction
Listed here are our new cultivars of Hoodia gordonii that were identified as tetrapolids by testing or that were found in subsequent generations of plants grown from seeds of plants, which had a known tetraploid predecessor. The ploidy of these cultivars has not been tested except as noted in their descriptions.
No tetraploids have been reported in wild plants. Our confirmed tetraploids came from colchicine treated seeds. Most of the tetraploid cultivars appear to grow faster and have larger flowers and seed follicles than the diploids.
Our plants are also open pollinated and if other species of Hoodia were blooming at the time the seed producing plants of these cultivars were also blooming the resulting seeds could be hybrids. If the only other plants in bloom were Hoodia gordonii then it is unlikely that the cultivars are hybrids. Potential hybridization may be indicated by the appearance of the floral anatomy and other phenotypic characteristics shown in the images.
As we build content for this section we will add additional data on the origins and genotypes of the cultivars and their characteristics.
Availability of Seeds and Plants of These Cultivars
We offer seeds and certified plants of many of these cultivars. These are available for purchase from our online store.
Listing of Cultivars
Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC3
This cultivar appeared as one of the most vigorous seedlings from our first colchicine seed exposure experiment. The plant had severe anthracnose and was lost to disease before seeds were produced from it. Seeds and plants of this cultivar will not be available. It is now extinct.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC3 |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC3 Flower |
Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC4
This cultivar also appeared as one of the most vigorous seedlings from our first colchicine seed exposure experiment. The original plant has been lost to disease and senescence. Testing of plants produced from three different lots of seeds from the original plant confirmed that they were also tetraploid, indicating that this cultivar produces viable, tetraploid seeds. Seeds and plants of successive generations of this cultivar are available for sale from our online store.
As for other tetraploids, the seed horns of this cultivar are typically bigger that those of diploid cultivars of Hoodia gordonii.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC4 |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC4 Typical Flower |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC4 Lengthy Follicles in Seed Collection Bag |
Senescence
The original F1 plant of this cultivar stopped growing, developed yellowing of lower stems and eventually lost its roots after being in cultivation for about ten years. The decay of roots and lower parts of the stems occurred slowly and is not characteristic of bacterial soft rot, which is usually of rapid onset and quickly kills the plants. This syndrome has been observed in several of our very old specimens and appears to be related to senescence.
 Withering Stems from Senescent Hoodia gordonii Cultivar HG-NC4 plant |
 Root Loss on Senescent Plant of Cultivar HG-NC4 |
Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC5
This cultivar also appeared as one of the most vigorous seedlings from our first colchicine seed exposure experiment. The original plant has been lost to disease and senescence. Seeds and plants of successive generations of this cultivar be available for sale from our online store.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC5 |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC5 Specimen Showing Flower Variation |
The flowers of this cultivar may be highly variable in color and shape.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC5 Typical Flower Color |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC5 Tan Flower |
Senescence
Slow onset of withering, yellowing of stems and root loss was also experienced with the approximately ten year old original plant of this cultivar. This syndrome was nearly identical to that observed for Cultivar HG-NC4 described above. This appears to be associated with senescence.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC5 Senescence |
Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC6
This cultivar appeared as one of the most vigorous seedlings from treatment of seeds from Cultivar HG-NC1 in our fourth colchicine seed exposure experiment. Successive cuttings from the original plant are still living. Seeds and plants of this cultivar will be available from our online store.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC6 |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC6 Flowering |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC6 Typical Flower |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC6 Flower Center |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC6 Seeds |
Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC8
This cultivar appeared as one of the most vigorous seedlings from treatment of seeds from Cultivar HG-NC1 in our fifth colchicine seed exposure experiment. Successive cuttings from the original plant are still living. Seeds and plants of successive generations of this cultivar will be available from our online store.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC8 |
Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC9
This cultivar appeared as one of the most vigorous seedlings from treatment of seeds from Cultivar HG-NC1 in our fifth colchicine seed exposure experiment. The original plant was lost to disease and senescence. No seeds or viable cuttings were produced. This cultivar is extinct.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC9 |
Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC10
This cultivar was found in a lot of seedlings that was shipped from our Frederick, Maryland facility to Hawaii in 2013. The shipping container was severely damaged in shipment resulting in the loss of the pot tag identifying the plant and its ancestry. Testing confirmed that it was a tetraploid. One lot of seeds from this plant was also tested and found to be tetraploid, indicating that the cultivar produces viable, tetraploid seeds. The original plant was lost to senescence and disease but seeds from it and successive generations of plants from this cultivar will be available from our online store.
 Hoodia gordonii Cultivar HG-NC10 |
 Hoodia gordonii Cultivar HG-NC10 Flower Example 1 |
 Hoodia gordonii Cultivar HG-NC10 Flower Example 2 |
 Hoodia gordonii Cultivar HG-NC10 Flower Center |
Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC13
This cultivar appeared in seedlings from a confirmed tetraploid plant with a tag indicating that is was a plant purchased from Germany. Its actual identity is uncertain because it was shipped to Hawaii from Maryland in a damaged shipping container, which may have resulted in a tags being mixed up with those from other plants. The polidy of this cultivar needs to be confirmed by testing. The original plant was lost to senescence and disease.
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC13 |
 Hoodia gordonii Tetraploid Cultivar HG-NC13 Typical Flower |
Plants and Seeds for Sale
Improved Cultivars
We offer plants and seeds of improved tetraploid varieties of this species (cultivars) that we have developed from our online store. The species name listed for these cultivars is that associated with the seed-bearing plant from which the seeds or plants were grown. Because all of our plants are open pollinated in most cases we cannot definitively determine of the pollinator and all of our cultivars may have hybridized with other species.
Restrictions on Use of Cultivars. Sales and samples of plants, cuttings and seeds of this species and its cultivars are subject to our Hawaiian Hoodia™ License Agreement. All patent rights are reserved by Sustainable Bioresources, LLC. The transfer of Improved Cultivars as defined in the agreement from the buyer to other parties, and all commercial propagation or other commercial uses of these cultivars is prohibited.
We welcome inquiries about potential arrangements for commercial licensing and/or distributorships of our Hawaiian Hoodia™ products.
Please Contact Us for additional information.
Organic Status. All of the live plants of these cultivars offered for sale are Certified Naturally Grown (CNG), produced following organic farming standards of the CNG program.
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Availability and Ordering Information
Nursery Stock. Seeds and live plants of some tetraploid cultivars of this species are available for purchase from our online store.
Photos taken in December 2019 of typical plants of this species are shown below. These seedlings were approximately one year old when the photos were taken and were in 5” pots. Some of them are now available for sale as mature plants of harvestable size. All are Certified Nursery Plants (CNP), grown in the Hawaii Department of Agriculture certified nursery areas of our facility.
Improved Cultivars
 Hoodia gordonii Seedlings from Tetraploid Lines, Improved Cultivars |
Shipping Information
Domestic Shipments. Hoodia plants and cuttings from our certified nursery, and seeds can be shipped to all states and territories of the U.S except California. We are no longer shipping plants or cuttings to California. All plants will be shipped bare root.
International Shipments. All shipments of Hoodia plants, cuttings, seeds and materials derived from Hoodia plants to destinations outside the U.S. must comply with the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These shipments will be made under the provisions of our CITES Master File number 44411D, Original Permit/Certificate number 19US52992D/9 and single use permits issued to us by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We must obtain a single use permit for each shipment, regardless of its size. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
Inspections, import permits and issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates may also be necessary, and documentation requirements vary by country. Advance payment of fees may be required for permits, certificates, inspections and related services. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Sale for additional information. International customers are advised to contact us for before placing orders for any of our Hoodia products as the requirements and logistics for shipments from Hawai`i are currently unsettled.
This page was last updated on January 30, 2022.