Fuchsia perscandens

[meanie]

As a newbie here, I'd like to share with you all my favourite Fuchsia - F.perscandens
It's a New Zealand native, which is supposedly hardy down to a degree or to of frost (although I'm not putting it to the test). Kept in the  garage over the winter and recently moved into the conservatory overnight and on cool days. Blessed with a naturally messy growth habit, it will scramble upwards if left to it's own devices. I however keep it as a small specimen (up to half a metre'ish) with no detrimental effect on blooming as the flowers come from the branches.
Photo taken last September.

[mark smyth]

yes very nice. I think I saw this growing outside in a Cornish garden

[meanie]

Thanks Mark. That would make sense, as the climate down there would be more agreeable. More like Siberia here in Oxfordshire the last couple of winters though...
For anyone interested, the link below gives a nice overview of New Zealands native Fuchsia.....
http://nfsnz.orconhosting.net.nz/nzspecies.htm
I have a hankering to give F.procumbens a go if anyone has any advice.

[David Lyttle]

Fuchsia perscandens is perfectly hardy probably down to about -5 degrees of frost, It can grow as a climber (in forest) or as a mound in the open, It is normally deciduous in the winter. It can get quite rampant in a garden so get out the secateurs. Fuchsia procumbens is not frost tolerant and is killed by quite light frosts. It is normally trailing and fairly small but in a greenhouse or conservatory can become rampant and climb. Fuchsia perscandens is very easy to strike from cuttings. Fuchsia procumbens is grown widely in New Zealand but Fuchsia perscandens is not well known and hardly grown at all

[meanie]

Fuchsia perscandens is perfectly hardy probably down to about -5 degrees of frost, It can grow as a climber (in forest) or as a mound in the open, It is normally deciduous in the winter. It can get quite rampant in a garden so get out the secateurs. Fuchsia procumbens is not frost tolerant and is killed by quite light frosts. It is normally trailing and fairly small but in a greenhouse or conservatory can become rampant and climb. Fuchsia perscandens is very easy to strike from cuttings. Fuchsia procumbens is grown widely in New Zealand but Fuchsia perscandens is not well known and hardly grown at all

Thanks David. I'd best keep mine undercover then as my low this last winter -21 centigrade!
I've sourced a F.procumbens which I intend to keep as a small specimen.

[meanie]

Here's a photo that I took earlier of some of the flower buds on my F.perscandens - it's interesting (to me anyway) because it shows how the flowers on this emerge from the older woody stems, and not the more usual fresh growth.



(Note to moderators; I've used the URL for the large image to show the detail - if this is inappropriate, leave a comment to that effect and I can alter it)

[Maggi Young]

Very illustrative picture... clearly showing that emergence from "old growth".

The buds also  have a great look of being formed from wet jelly....   

[Hoy]

Meanie,
now I am curiously awaiting a picture of the flowers

[Maggi Young]

I have merged two pages, Trond.... so scroll up to the first post on the page and your wish is granted.....

[meanie]

Maggi - I think that sometimes we don't pay enough attention to flower buds........

Hoy - this is what they will look like (as long as we don't get any Arctic weather)



Looks like being a really good display this year, especially as the leaves will be very small  (they're usually hid beneath the leaves).

[meanie]

Thanks Maggi - you're efficiency out-does my typing! Heck of a memory too!!!

[Maggi Young]

Maggi - I think that sometimes we don't pay enough attention to flower buds........

I agree with you. There can be astonishing forms and textures in buds.
It is only too easy to overlook such treasures, especially in tiny flowers. It is one of the greatest thrills of digital photography, in my opinion, that we are able to so easily share photos that really show so many intimate details of our plants. Such capacity must add such a lot to our general appreciation of the magical life of plants.

[Maggi Young]

You know what they say, meanie: an elephant never forgets 
 Actually, I remembered that super photo at the top of the page.... it is a cracker.

[meanie]

Maggi - I think that sometimes we don't pay enough attention to flower buds........

I agree with you. There can be astonishing forms and textures in buds.
It is only too easy to overlook such treasures, especially in tiny flowers. It is one of the greatest thrills of digital photography, in my opinion, that we are able to so easily share photos that really show so many intimate details of our plants. Such capacity must add such a lot to our genral appreciation of the magical life of plants.

Agreed!

Three of my favourites...............

[meanie]

You know what they say, meanie: an elephant never forgets 
 Actually, I remembered that super photo at the top of the page.... it is a cracker.

I could send a cutting later in the year if you want..............