FUCHSIA. Mexico to southern South America, New Zealand. Hybrid fuchsias have long been a basic feature of the California garden. However, many ornamental species are still little known. They range from small shrublets to clambering, almost vinelike shrubs and small trees. The leaves vary remarkably in size and coloring, though most are some version of simple oval in outline. The flowers are usually pendant, with an outer skirt of four thick, colored sepals and an inner circle of four, often differently colored petals. The berry-like fruits are sometimes also decorative. A few are resistant to the dreaded fuchsia mite, though it would be wise to keep them segregated from potentially infested hybrids. Most of them thrive in the semishade, loose, fertile soils and regular watering given to hybrid fuchsias. However, some have much broader tolerances, as noted. Their hardiness also varies considerably.

arborescens. As the species name suggests, this is one of the giants of the group. In mild climates or sheltered nooks, it eventually forms a parasol shaped tree up to 25’ high. It has spreading branches with attractive, pale bark and deeply veined, softly shiny leaves up to 8" long. The flowers are borne in late spring and summer. They are individually small and spidery but carried in broad clusters. In the current, unnamed selection flower color is purplish pink. This species thrives in sun or light shade. About 25^oF.

campos-portoi. Spreading, even trailing shrub with closely spaced 1-2" leaves. It carries many drooping 1" blossoms in summer and fall. The sepals are deep pink, the inner petals purple. 25^oF or less.

glazioviana. A bushy plant, growing up to 10’ high, with whorls of shiny pointed-oval leaves. The flowers are narrowly parted, about 1½” long, with much longer, protruding stamens. The outer segments are magenta, the inner purple. Evidently hardy to around 20^oF.

magellanica. Hardy fuchsia. This species hails from nearly the southern tip of South America and may be treated as an ordinary landscape shrub in cooler summer areas; inland, it will need some shading during hot weather. It is a dense though somewhat rambling shrub, up to 10’ tall and perhaps 20’ broad in its typical form. The stems are clothed with dark, shiny 1" leaves. Flowers range from pink to deep red outside, with similarly colored or contrasting petals. We began with a compact, unnamed selection from Gerda Isenberg, growing up to 8’ tall and widely spreading. It has medium pink flowers. Later we tried several promising selections from Forestfarm in Oregon. ‘Pumila’ is the star of this group. It offers dense growth, exceptionally shiny leaves and masses of 1½” flowers throughout the summer and fall. The sepals are deep red, the petals purple. Sun or light shade. Hardy to 10^oF or less, though the tops are burned back in hard freezes.

procumbens. This odd species is found in New Zealand, far from the main concentration of the genus. It is a trailing shrub, with slender, flexible stems lined by pairs of nearly round 1/2" leaves, deep green and shiny on their upper surface. The flowers stand out or up from the stems. They are up to 3/4" long and colored an unusual pale orange. The berries are large, bright red and quite decorative. Hardy to around 20^oF.

regia (variety to be determined). Nearly vining in habit and up to 20’ tall, though easily maintained as a much smaller shrub. It has reddish stems and dark, shiny narrow leaves up to 6" long. The flowers are narrow, 1-2" long overall, red outside and purple within. 25^oF or less, in the current material.

thymifolia. A most attractive shrub, very different from one’s image of a typical fuchsia. It grows as much as 8’ tall but is easily controlled. Its slender stems are crowded with tiny, nearly round, deep green leaves. Flowers are less than ½” long but liberally sprinkled over the plant. The current, typical selection bears deep pink flowers from early spring to fall. ‘Variegata’ is a little lower and slower growing and has cream-margined leaves. Evidently 20^oF or less.