Fuchsia Varieties
jill
Posted: Jul-10-2004 at 10:03am
We are in the process of planting flower beds. I found two beautiful fuchsias- macrostemma alba, and pink jade.
I am curious if anyone knows how big either of these will grow...so I will provide enough space for them. I am under the impression that they are hardy enough to make it through the winter in the PNW...if not, please give me whatever advice you have.
Thank you!!!
jill
Lisa A
Joined: Aug-14-2003 Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Posted: Jul-23-2004 at 9:54pm
I'm sorry no one has been able to answer your questions, Jill. In yesterday's Oregonian's Homes and Gardens of the Northwest, there was an excellent article on fuchsias with resources for further information. Perhaps there is something in this article that will help you. See tiny fuchsia article. Scroll to the bottom of the article to find resources, including information to contact the Oregon Fuchsia Society. Hopefully, you'll find some answers.
It would be great if you'd post what you find out so we all can learn more about fuchsias. Thanks!
__________________Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
"If you are not killing plants, you are not really stretching yourself as a gardener."
~ J. C. Raulston
Joined: Jul-17-2003
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Jul-28-2004 at 11:54am
Jill, sorry for the delay, but after a bit of web searching, your macrostemma alba might be Fuchsia magellanica macrostemma 'Alba' and with the species magellanica identified, it is known as a "hardy" fuchsia.
I personally grow F. m. 'Riccartoni' and it has been very hardy. Your Alba may grow to about 24" and have a large dense shape and arching form. Each year I think my plant will grow from last year's arches, but by late spring I get impatient and trim it back to sticks to about 6-8" above the ground. It blesses me with new growth to 4-5' in height and would love to arch to 3-4' in width. I assume your Alba may be smaller.
Your 'Pink Jade' I couldn't find whether it is hardy, but it is a single, upright, and blooms heavily on a bushy plant.
On visiting a fuchsia grower in the Willamette Valley, they advised that the more tubular the blooms, the less hardy the variety. Tubular like a penstamon or phygelius. Overall to help a fuchsia to be its hardiest, the grower advised burying the plants deep in the soil by some 6-8" also removing the leaves from any low branches and burying those branches as well. If we get a hard winter, the plant is so deep that all of the leaf nodes have an opportunity to form roots, and the root zone is buried deeper and survives. I sometimes mulch over my plants instead of burying them deeply. I do plant mine in the ground and have enjoyed their coming back year after year with added growth and, of course, blooms.
Good luck! I just love fuchsias - fuchsias are my friends
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