Thanks, Emma

I googled a bit and am pretty convinced that the red cotton is referring to a variety called Red Foliated Cotton, but the color red refers to the stems and leaves, not the cotton fiber.

And I found that out only by looking at past SSE Yearbooks b/c web references just referred to red cotton with no explanation.

The current 2004 SSE Yearbook has the following cottons listed:

Arkansas Green Lint
Brown
Nankeen ( light brown)
Peruvian Brown
Sea Island
Texas Green Boll ( several shades of green)

The Red Foliated one is not listed in the 2004 Yearbook and no way of knowing what will be listed in the 2005 Yearbook. One can only request seeds from the current Yearbook, as regards other Cottons I saw in older Yearbooks.

If you're already an SSE member you might want to consider requesting some different varieties, but if you aren't an SSE member it seems like a lot of money to pay to become a member just to get some cotton seeds. Just my opinion. But strictly your choice.

Carolyn, who thinks that any references to a blue cotton also probably refer to foliage/stem color tint. Also, most mention that cotton is a 150-200 day crop and I forgot to look at your page to see where you live. If I did it now I'd lose this post and I don't want to redo it. LOL

Thank you for you detailed post. I too suspect that the red cotton doesn't refer to the cotton itself-but I am hoping.

" Also, most mention that cotton is a 150-200 day crop and I forgot to look
at your page to see where you live. -

I live in an area in Japan where I can grow cotton.

' If you're already an SSE member you might want to consider requesting some different varieties, but if you aren't an SSE member it seems like a lot of
money to pay to become a member just to get some cotton seeds. Just my
opinion. But strictly your choice.-

Thanks.

Thank you for listing the SSE cotton, there were some kinds that I have not heard of but want to try. I will post anymore sources/types I find. Emma

Baci,

Could you please list sources for these if they are natural fiber cottons?

As I said above, the only references I could find to a red cotton referred to plant coloration, not fiber color.

Bronze yes, as a shade of brown there are several varieties, but blue? As a natural fiber?

Carolyn

I've read of a red colored cotton but have never been able to locate seed. The original source on that was an article in a magazine back in the 1940's (before my time, I just read the article many years later). I've also seen advertisements requesting red colored cotton a couple of times in magazines such as OG (back when it really was OG).

I grew Erlene's Green and the dark brown cotton this year as well as a standard long fiber white cotton. The problem with the colored cottons is that they are short fiber and don't expand out of the bolls very easily. I hope to grow crossed seed from the white cotton that will allow me to combine the long fiber with the colors.

Fusion

Unless someone here comes up with a source for red cotton that doesn't refer just to the plant coloration perhaps those interested should check out the USDA listings to see if they have a red cotton that can be requested. It just seems to me that someone would have already done that if it were such a novelty.

Since I'm in a zone 4/5 I have no intention of growing cotton, said Carolyn looking out at the frosted lawn this AM with a temp of 26 out there. LOL

And yes, in looking at the colored cottons listed at SSE I did notice that almost all were short fiber.

Ah yes, Organic Gardening when it was really OG, useful and non-political; I gave up on the current OG many years ago. Sigh.

Carolyn

That's what I found as well, in addition to the Red Foliated one. IN other words I found nothing that said the it was really an all red cotton. And even the ne you ling to is called Peruvian Brown.

And I'm a bit embarrassed since I forgot to look at Native Seeds/SEARCH, and I'm a member. LOL

Several of the ones I listed above from SSE listings also gave a range of colors.

Carolyn

http://www.flonnet.com/fl2110/stories/20040521001408100.htm

I found a picture of the red but I am looking for a better one. The bronze cotton is simply a bronze color. I have some seeds somewhere – if I can find them I will post them.

There was a documentary on television that reported on growing blue & red cotton in CA. I have not found the source, however. It is probably in the research phases.

http://www.farminfo.org/othercrops/cotton.htm
has some information on obtaining seeds. Evidentially there are more colors such as green, etc.

Lavender cotton is also Santolina chamaecyparissus. I just mentioned it because it is not fiber cotton, but an herb.

Fusion

Another site is:
http://cicr.nic.in/
Go to the photo gallery, click on miscellaneous & there is a what looks like a blue cotton on the next page.

And I'm learning as well.

Carolyn

I have several of the colors, but man would I like to get some of the blue!!
I have a lavender cotton seed, but was really sceptical about it being truly a lavender cotton, and not the Santolina chamaecyparissus, which is CALLED lavender cotton.
My seeds look just like those blue ones, but a real pretty lavender color. I am nervous about planting them, though, as the date has 2001...bummer. I hope they germinate. I think I'll try them in the greenhouse this winter.
Looks like that's something I should have planted years ago!
-T

Yes most natural colored cottons are short stapled. They do come in a varity of different colors from oatmeal to cinnamon to greens and the new ones from Peru even include a lavender.
The site linked below has been working with colored cotton. They have some intersting information and may be able to help you.

And if you wish to see pictures of the new cotton roving from Peru go to http://store.carlsonwoollies.com/peruviancotton.html

dorothy

dorothy

Red Foliated Cotton
165 days [From SSE member Alice Gamewel via IA HO C 81] A beautiful plant with rich red stems, flowers, and leaves. Under 2' tall, it grows well in a container or adds interest to a flower bed. It is green when it first emerges but soon develops the red coloring . The cotton is a short staple white. #72205 Pkt. (16-20 seeds) Cannot ship to GA or CA
http://www.southernexposure.com/index.html

Other Cotton selections are ---
Nankeen Cotton, Earlene's Green Cotton, Arkansas Green Lint Cotton, and Mississippi Brown Cotton.