Phragmipedium QF Maria & Cardinale

[Malipoense]

Both phrags came from Ecuagenera during the CIOS Speakers Day. Very lovely flowers!! They have a nice compact growing habit which is nice. The QF Maria's dalessandroi parentage is quite visible in the 1st flower. I got the cardinale because I saw someone elses large cardinale on the judging table with many spikes and blooms. It ended up getting a CCM/AOS!

 

[monocotman]

Lovely things but that Cardinale is insane!

 

[Malipoense]

Lovely things but that Cardinale is insane!

Indeed, many people including me were in shock as the grower brought in that monster multi-growth cardinale!

 

[mrhappyrotter]

You may be the perfect person to ask! Is your Cardinale (or the awarded one) fragrant?

I've been contemplating the Ecuagenera Cardinale offering, I think since last year. I assume theirs are seed grown, which is one reason I want one. The historic clones are nice, but I want to see what modern breeding has to offer. I was also really, really hoping I could get one that's fragrant. I assume with 75% schlimii in the background, there's a chance at least some of them are fragrant, it's not guaranteed though.

Both Cardinale plants you posted have nice flowers and yes the specimen is impressive.

I'm a little cooler on my love for the QF Maria, it's a decent enough hybrid, but overall it seems like most of the ones I've seen photos of (or grown) are inferior versions of similar-ish hybrids like Memoria Dick Clements, Rosalie Dixler, or even Nicholle Tower. Having said that, your plant's flower has nice color and an interesting mix of the parents species' features. Much better than the one in my collection that I recently ditched.

 

[Malipoense]

You may be the perfect person to ask! Is your Cardinale (or the awarded one) fragrant?

I've been contemplating the Ecuagenera Cardinale offering, I think since last year. I assume theirs are seed grown, which is one reason I want one. The historic clones are nice, but I want to see what modern breeding has to offer. I was also really, really hoping I could get one that's fragrant. I assume with 75% schlimii in the background, there's a chance at least some of them are fragrant, it's not guaranteed though.

Both Cardinale plants you posted have nice flowers and yes the specimen is impressive.

I'm a little cooler on my love for the QF Maria, it's a decent enough hybrid, but overall it seems like most of the ones I've seen photos of (or grown) are inferior versions of similar-ish hybrids like Memoria Dick Clements, Rosalie Dixler, or even Nicholle Tower. Having said that, your plant's flower has nice color and an interesting mix of the parents species' features. Much better than the one in my collection that I recently ditched.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to detect a fragrance on either. I was hoping they would, but I guess not. There might be some plants in the future that may develop slight fragrance due to the 75% schlimii influence, who knows? You can try and get one from Ecuagenera if you want. Yes, I do think my QF Maria does have an interesting mix of the parents, not like any other ones I have seen before. It's definitely a keeper for me! It also has some slight ruffling in the petals which adds a nice touch.