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dondeldux

Who am I going to be.. I was supposed to be Estella

Hi!

I bought this bulb last year as Estella, but it didn't flower last year...grew nice green leaves all summer and appears to be healthy and is now giving me a nice stalk with 4 flowers, but the problem is it appears to be a dark burgundy with what I think I see, are stripes..? Take a look and see what you think she will be... I would have guessed it might be Benfica but the stripes..? I guess we'll all know in a few days..Any and all guesses will be appreciated:-)

Thanks,

Donna

{{gwi:378828}}

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in the sun..

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Comments (11)

  • honeybunny2 Fox
    13 years ago

    I think its MAGNIFICENT! Lucky you. Barbra

  • mariava7
    13 years ago

    Benfica

  • fishing_dentist
    13 years ago

    Or some other dark red!
    :-)

  • honeybunny2 Fox
    13 years ago

    MAGNIFICENT! is how I feel about it, not its name. I think its gorgeous. I love the bloom. I think it looks just like the Benficia, that Maria posted. Barbra

  • organicstarbuck
    13 years ago

    Gorgeous!I cannot wait to see it open.

  • joshy46013
    13 years ago

    Not meaning to jump your thread but does 'Estella' even exist? I've bought maybe 6 of them this season and not ONE turned out correctly labeled? Most are 'Misty'?!? I really would love an actual 'Estella'....

    Donna, I can't wait to see this baby open :) It looks VERY interesting!

    Josh

  • dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Good question, Josh, but I am pleased as I don't have a Benfica, the only dark red I have is Red Pearl...this one is so dark, the same dark burgundy as the burgundy in papilio, if not darker!! I guess what confused me was the stripes that will probably get absorbed by the dark pigment...even the ovule (I think thats right, the part that becomes the seedpod) is dark red...

    Donna

  • jimnpa (zone6a PA USA)
    13 years ago

    Josh,
    I bought 4 Estella bulbs this season. Three were labeled correctly, I think????? One was a mis-labeled cybister, "La Paz".

    The color of my Estellas was washed out due to the high temps in my growing area. I was surprised as to how long the flower stems were. Most were 30+" (75cm).

    Jim

    {{gwi:378832}}

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

  • blancawing
    13 years ago

    Dear Donna,

    I think that Maria is correct and you received a mislabeled Benfica, but whatever your dark mystery turns out to be it is surely beautiful.

    Josh,

    Two years ago, in January 2009, I purchased three bulbs of Estella. Despite my best care, none has ever bloomed (and one died for no apparent reason).
    I do think that Estella exists or existed. However, it is likely that none of us has received a correctly labeled bulb of this elusive trumpet.

    Jim,

    I do not think that your bulb is Estella. Instead, to my eye, it appears to be a sad, stressed Sweet Lillian.

    Best regards to all, Blanca

  • fishing_dentist
    13 years ago

    I agree Blanca!!

  • dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Well, I had a bit of trouble posting pictures, Picasa lost all the links, but they're back now...

    My Benfica has finally opened all the way and what a beauty.. I just can't get the color right, have taken a dozen pictures and they all come out too purple...anyway, the color is a very, very dark velvet red, just lovely and it's a 6 "+ flower. In the pictures it looks just like my Red Pearl, but since they're not both out I can't compare...take a look and see if you still think it's Benfica.. Thanks,

    Donna

    {{gwi:378834}}
    {{gwi:378835}}

    These were taken without flash and I still couldn't get the color right!

    Here is Red Pearl:{{gwi:378836}}

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