Epiphytic Fuchsias

Lee Poulsen wpoulsen@pacbell.net
Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:19:05 PDT
On Jul 12, 2006, at 6:49 PM, chuck schwartz wrote:
> Hi Joe,
> I saw your interest in the epiphytic Fuchsias, which i have also, but 
> I have
> a species, F. boliviensis, that tolerates heat as long as it gets some 
> sun'
> I've grown it in zone 9 where i got down to 24F. You're welcome to some
> seed, it's a spectacular plant; grey-green foliage, 3"  white tubes 
> ending
> with dark pink sepals, about 10' tall.
>
> chuck Schwartz
>

On Jul 13, 2006, at 7:24 AM, Jim McKenney wrote:
> Joe Shaw asked about Fuchsia suitable to his Houston, Texas climate.
>
> Do you know the old Fuchisa triphylla hybrid called Gartenmeister 
> Bonstedt?
> This won't get you the sort of bragging rights that come with rarities 
> such
> as the wild forms of Fuchsia decidua and F. fulgens, but if you are 
> looking
> for a heat/humidity tolerant and very ornamental Fuchsia, a plant with 
> real
> éclat,  this is it. Superficially, it is similar to Fuchsia fulgens.

If I'm not mistaken, and I often am, I vaguely recall reading that one 
of the parents of Gartenmeister Bonstedt was a low elevation Caribbean 
Fuchsia species, which is where it got it's ability to withstand hot, 
humid conditions. As with many other such plants, it is pretty commonly 
available at most mainstream nurseries here in California. It is a very 
nice Fuchsia, even if you're in a climate where you're able to grow the 
more typical Fuchsia hybrids.

As for Fuchsia boliviensis that Chuck mentions, it isn't nearly as 
common, but I only recently learned that along with its ability to take 
the heat, it can also take quite a bit more cold than I at first 
thought. I got mine at Kartuz Nursery in San Diego County and they 
claim that it is frost tender. (It also sounds like Chuck has the 
'Alba' form; in the common species, the flowers are all one solid dark 
pink color.) [See descriptions below.]

But Woodlanders Nursery on the mid-Atlantic East Coast says Tony Avent 
(of Plant Delights Nursery; and I think he's on this list too) has 
successfully overwintered it in North Carolina. Or at least the clone 
they brought back from northern Argentina has done so. They claim it's 
hardy to zone 7. So this sounds like an excellent candidate for Joe to 
try in Houston as well. I think both forms are very striking. In 
Pasadena they prefer afternoon shade in the summer when it's hot.

However, I don't think either are geophytes.

--Lee Poulsen
Pasadena, California, USDA Zone 10a


Both of these places offer these for sale.

http://www.woodlanders.net/
Fuchsia boliviana
Bright red tubular flowers in pendulous clusters.This Fuchsia is from a 
subtropical rainforest region should prove much more heat tolerant than 
common types. Overwintered successfully for Tony Avent in Raleigh, NC. 
Tucuman Province, Argentina.

Seed, Tafi del Valle, Argentina
USDA Hardiness Zone 7-9

----------

http://www.kartuz.com/
Fuchsia boliviana
Frost-tender shrub with soft grey-green leaves and red veins, pendent 
clusters of long-tubed scarlet flowers. So. American Andies. Onagraceae

Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba'
Frost-tender shrub with soft grey-green leaves and red veins, pendent 
clusters of long-tubed scarlet sepals and long white corolla. 
Onagraceae


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