Fuchsia Flower
The Fuchsia Flower
One of the most widely cultivated plants in the world, growing
fuchsias is easy if a few rules are followed. Garden 'experts' often sideline fuchsias in
favour of rarer plants, but examination of a single fuchsia
bloom shows them to be beautiful and exotic.
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FUCHSIA FLOWER
QUICK GUIDE
Latin Name
Fuchsia
Plant Type
Varies dependant on cultivar
Site and Soil
Moist, rich and well-drained soil. Partial shade
Main Interest
Flowers - some for foliage
Size
Depends on variety
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Fuchsias come in a huge kaleidoscope of colours and different forms
to suit almost any situation. Grow them in baskets, as hedges, specimen
plant, massed in a border or at the height of their elegance as a standard plant.
This article will lead you through the steps necessary to grow and care for a
variety of healthy and beautiful fuchsias at very little cost.
History of the Fuchsia Flower
| Fuchsias originate from South America, growing wild there and in New
Zealand. They were first imported into Britain around 1789. During the late
1800s, hybridising of Fuchsias reached its height, when the plants were
highly valued by the Victorians. The picture on the right is of 'Thalia'
dating back to about 1855. Their popularity after Victorian times
declined only to begin another revival from the 1950s until the present
time. Many of the original Fuchsia varieties are still popular today. Click here for
more details on the history of fuchsias. |
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The
Exotic Fuchsia Flower
Although they look very exotic, the fuchsia flower is no different in
structure to other flowers. The flower is held by a thin stalk which
swells out to form the seed case (ovary). The seed case develops into a
tube formed by four sepals.
When the flower is only a bud, the sepals
are closed. As the flower bursts open, the sepals part and curl upward.
The flower itself (corolla) consists of many petals from which the
stamens and stigma protrude.
The photo on the left is of 'Celia Smedley', which has the classic fuchsia
flower shape - however the flowers come in all sorts of shapes, long, short, full or narrow.
The flower colours range from deepest purple to delicate shades of blue,
from flaming red to the palest of pinks. There are now over 7,000
fuchsia varieties, each a jewel in its own right.
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Use the Fuchsia Index at the top left of this page to select a particular
subject concerned with fuchsias or simply click the "next page" at the bottom of this and
every fuchsia page to proceed through our twelve pages on growing fuchsias.
If you want to buy Fuchsias online then we suggest you try Victoriana
Nursery (see next paragraph about the 10% discount). They are our recommended suppliers of
fuchsias. With over 650 varieties to choose from Victoriana are the largest growers of
fuchsias in the South east of England - they even supply the Royal Family with fuchsias and
these can be seen growing in Windsor.
We have negotiated a 10% for you on everything you buy online at Victoriana
Nursery. Simply click here
to go to their site and when your total is calculated at the online checkout you will see
that they have automatically given you a 10% discount. No need to enter a voucher code, it's
all automatic.
CLICK
HERE FOR NEXT FUCHSIA PAGE
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