Fuchsia

Fuchsia () is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. The first scientifically documented species, Fuchsia Triphylla was discovered by Charles Plumier, a French Minim monk, and botanist. It was found on the Caribbean island Hispaniola (Haiti, Dominican Republic), in 1696-1697. He named the new genus after German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501-1566).

Description

Almost 110 species of Fuchsia are recognized; the vast majority are native to South America, but a few occur north through Central America to Mexico, and also several from New Zealand to Tahiti. One species, F. magellanica, extends as far as the southern tip of South America, occurring on Tierra del Fuego in the cool temperate zone, but the majority are tropical or subtropical. Most fuchsias are shrubs from 0.2 to 4 m (8 in to 13 ft 1 in) tall, but one New Zealand species, the kotukutuku (F. excorticata), is unusual in the genus in being a tree, growing up to 12-15 m (39-49 ft) tall.

Fuchsia leaves can be found in opposites or in groups of three to five. They are simple lanceolates and have serrated margins (entire for some species). They measure 1-25 cm in length and can either be deciduous evergreen or deciduous, depending on their species. The flowers are very decorative; they have a pendulous teardrop shape and are displayed in profusion throughout the summer and autumn, and all year in tropical species. The flowers have four long, narrow sepals and four shorter and broader petals. In many species, the petals are bright red while the sepals in some are purple. This attracts the hummingbirds which pollinate them. However, they can also be white, dark red, purple-blue and orange. A few have yellowish tones. The ovary is inferior and the fruit is a small (5-25 mm) dark reddish green, deep red, or deep purple berry, containing numerous very small seeds.

The fruit of the berry of F. splendens is reportedly among the best-tasting. Its flavor is reminiscent of citrus and black pepper, and it can be made into jam. Other fuchsias have a bland flavor or leave a bitter aftertaste.

Cultivation

Fuchsias are popular garden shrubs, and once planted can live for years with a minimal amount of care. The British Fuchsia Society maintains a list of hardy fuchsias that have been proven to survive a number of winters throughout Britain and to be back in flower each year by July. Enthusiasts report that hundreds and even thousands of hybrids survive and prosper throughout Britain. In the United States, the Northwest Fuchsia Society maintains an extensive list of fuchsias that have proven hardy in members’ gardens in the Pacific Northwest over at least three winters.

Fuchsias from sections Quelusia (F. magellanica, F. regia), Encliandra, Skinnera (F. excorticata, F. perscandens) and Procumbentes (F. procumbens) have especially proven to be hardy in widespread areas of Britain and Ireland, as well as in many other countries such as New Zealand (aside from its native species) or the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Many species can survive outside in mild climates. Though some may not always flower in the average British summer, they will often perform well in other favorable climatic zones. Even in somewhat colder regions, a number of the hardier species will often survive as herbaceous perennials, dying back and reshooting from below ground in the spring.

The favorable, mild climate of the North Atlantic Current allows fuchsias to flourish in West Kerry, Ireland, and the Isles of Scilly. They even colonize wild areas. While F. magellanica is not widespread in Scotland it has been known to grow wild in sheltered areas, such as the banks of local streams in Fife. F.magellanica is also able to withstand regional winters in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Categories

Horticultural fuchsias may be categorised as upright and bushy, or trailing. Some can be trained as hedges, such as F. magellanica. Faster-growing varieties are easiest to train. Care should be taken to choose the hardier cultivars for permanent plantings in the garden as many popular upright Fuchsias such as ‘Ernie’, ‘Jollies Nantes’ and ‘Maria Landy’ are not reliably winter hardy, but rather extremely tender (hardiness zone 10).

Taxonomy

The fuchsias are most closely related to the northern hemisphere genus Circaea, the two lineages having diverged around 41 million years ago.