No scent with magenta-flowered Phal bellina?

[Leafmite]

I had a bellina that was not fragrant (it was definitely a bellina). I replaced it with one that is fragrant. I have owned other 'fragrant' species that should have been wonderfully fragrant but were not, including a scentless Brassavola nodosa that I kept for a couple of years hoping that the lack of fragrance was temporary (I have a Brassavola nodosa in bloom now that fills the house with a lovely fragrance every night). Orchid flowers are judged on their appearance and not their fragrance so, in the pursuit of the flower that looks perfect, fragrance is often lost.

Not sure if you have much experience with roses but the same has happened to them. My father grew roses for over fifty years and, in the beginning, fragrance was just expected. Towards the end, he was surprised to find that many roses had no scent at all and the very fragrant ones were often difficult to find. Again, roses are judged on appearance, including petal count, not fragrance.

[smweaver]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I hope you will get a nice, fragrant bellina clone.

I do have four different standard-colored Phal bellinas, and they're all very fragrant. I just thought I'd expand the collection a little and try a different colored variety. And now I've learned my lesson.

---------- Post added at 05:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:58 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

I did find this bellina rubra for sale Phal. bellina var. Rubra ('''Star Blush''' x fma. Rubra '''Fernbrook''') - OrchidWeb

Yes, that is, in fact, the vendor that sold me my rubra-flowered "bellina," or whatever it actually is (and that's also the exact cross, according to the label that I just looked at in the pot).

And Leafmite, I understand your father's experience with roses. The old garden roses are so much more superior in scent (and some other ways) than most modern roses. I have a couple of damask roses (Ispahan and Rose de Rescht), and there's no modern rose that I've yet experienced firsthand that can compete with their scents. Of course, they only bloom once a year, so after the spring you get to wait another year. But I think they're worth it. Funny how "official tastes" tend solely to the look of a flower and seem to undervalue fragrance. Kind of off topic, but I'm glad you brought it up!