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.

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

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.

picture of fuchsia celia smedley 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 it's own right.

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