Phygelius x rectus 'Moonraker'
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CAPE FUCHSIA
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Pronounced: foo-GAY-lee-us
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Shrub.
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Mature size: Height: 5 feet (1.5 m). Width: 5 feet (1.5 m).
Flowering period: Summer.
Flowering attributes: Showy, tubular, pale yellow flowers.
Leaf attributes: Four-inch long, deep green, ovate leaves.
Growth habit: Suckering shrub.
Light: Full sun.
Soil: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil.
Propagation Methods: Softwood cuttings in late spring. | Remove suckers in spring.
Pruning Methods: In the Northwest, cut back to the ground in spring.
Rainy Side Notes
There are two species of Phygelius that come out of South Africa. A cross of both species, P. aequalis and P. capensis, produced Phygelius x rectus and from there came hybrids such as P. 'Moonraker'. All are hardy here in our maritime climate. P. 'Moonraker' stays evergreen but sometimes becomes ratty looking toward the end of winter. A good pruning in early spring takes care of that, and it soon grows back to its full glory. It is a suckering shrub, so you want to site it carefully, away from small plants. Done this way, you can easily dig out the suckering stems.
Cape fuchsias can use a mulch in winter, preferably a dry one.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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