Four Gossypium barbadense L. strains bred for short plant stature and earliness of maturity were evaluated for their effect upon interspecific hybrid plant heights, earliness and lint yield. The four strains and the G. barbadense commercial cultivar Pima S-6 (PS-6) were crossed to the G. hirsutum cultivars McNair 235, Stoneville 506, SP21-S, and AZI07 to produce F₁ hybrids. Hybrids and their parents were evaluated in replicated tests at Maricopa, AZ (1988); Safford, AZ (1988 and 1989); and Las Cruces, NM (1989). G. barbadense parent height influenced hybrid plant heights in two of four tests, with the non-selected PS-6 producing the tallest hybrids. Significant differences in parental contributions to hybrid earliness were noted in two tests, with the later PS-6 parent producing later maturing hybrids and the early maturing Pima strains 84514 and 8327 producing earlier maturing hybrids. Hybrid yields exceeded parent yields in three of four tests. Best hybrid yields exceeded best parent yields by 29.1%, 49.1%, and 87.5% in the three tests. Significant G. barbadense parental contributions to hybrid yield performance were observed in all tests. Whereas the taller and later maturing PS-6 cultivar produced the highest yielding hybrids at Maricopa, the earlier maturing parent strains produced higher yielding hybrids at Safford and Las Cruces. Environment appeared to be a strong factor influencing hybrid height, earliness, and yield.