Anyone grow Fuchia magellinica as a perennial?

16 years ago

I think it was the Dutch Gardens catalog that I saw Fuchia magellinica - had no idea that a fuchia could be grown as anything other than a tender annual. you know, the hanging plants? These are taller and single flowers.

I did find a few websites that sell hardy fuchias but in a 4" pot which is small and would need more than 1 season to grow into itself in my way of thinking.

http://www.monnierscountrygardens.com/PhotoPagesM-S/MagAlba.html

http://www.monnierscountrygardens.com/PhotoPagesM-S/MagGrandmas.html

Anyway, anyone grow one of the perennial versions such as Fuchia magellinica and had it winter over? Z5 or 6?

Thanks

Linda

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Comments (8)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
16 years ago
It's tricky because it wants both a lot of water and good drainage. If you have sandy soil, it might be worth trying. I just found it to be too much work for not enough payback. The first winter I brought it in, the second I left it out and it didn't make it.
Linda G (zone 6a)
Original Author
16 years ago
Hmm. Not sandy but shade and drainage is good. Did you start with a small plant or something more like a trade gallon? How tall did it get?
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plympton_ma
16 years ago
I tried it once, with limited success, many years ago here in zone 6b MA.

I dug out and amended about 24' of bed and planted 1 gallon size plants 24" apart---the recommendation was at least 1 gal plants to start. The site faces East---which was supposed to be OK for this region. It was also recommended that they be planted several inches deep. I can't recall just how deep but it was several inches.

The plants struggled from the day I put them in. Back before on-line tracking of UPS was available, one just had to sit and wait for the package to arrive. By the time the plants had made it to the nearest distribution point, and seeing the cardboard shipping box had gotten soggy, my plants and box were set aside---in quarantine---and then everyone at UPS went home for the weekend.

By the time I got them, they were in horrific condition. The sorry looking plants were then greeted with an extended heat wave right after planting. I rigged some shade for them but stopped short of installing a hose line with a mister. Nine out of twelve survived the first summer. None made any substantial new growth. Six survived the winter.

Despite reasonable care, none grew much that second summer and impatience overcame me---I ripped them all out. I planted agastache cana which has overwintered year after year---has been totally carefree---and draws hummingbirds like there's no tomorrow.

Despite the unsatisfactory results---which were skewed by starting off with beaten down plants---I would try it again on a smaller scale in a less exposed location.

Good luck!
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
16 years ago
Mine was a 3" tent sale cheapier at White Flower Farm. That's why I was willing to spend money on it :-) I have quite heavy soil, and most things, including this, are planted into amended beds. Since I had heard it liked good drainage, it started out high up on what I call 'The Hill of Death'. It's where I put things like agastache, echinops, and other things that like it dry. The fuchsia did OK there, but every time I walked past, it looked so wilted that I had to run back and get it some water.

At the end of the first summer, it had grown a fair amount. It may have needed a 2 gal pot that winter. It just sat inside, and the next spring I decided to plant it in a more normal place because the watering bit was getting old. It liked the new spot considerably less, and disappeared that winter. The whole time I had it, it never bloomed.

BTW, I don't think this is a shade plant. I have run into people in Scandinavia who are successful with it. The trick seems to be sandy soil.
myonlysunshine
16 years ago
Good morning everyone,what a beautiful plant.I looked it up on the dutch gardens website,but it wasn't listed.Does anyone know where I can buy this plant either online or in store(I live in Ma.)?I would love to give it a try!
Linda G (zone 6a)
Original Author
16 years ago
mad_gallica - the no blooming thing would just kill me! I need a 2-3 foot perennial for a true north exposure- full shade that has some 'oomph' to it and I was hoping that this could be it!

my onlysunshine
dutch gardens does has a red version Dutch Gardens Hardy fuchia
you can also check the Earthworks Fuchsia who has some way way cool stuff. The Fuchsia Lady

Anyone out there know of a local source for the perennial version - Mass or NH?

Linda
ego45
16 years ago
As far as I know there are no fuchsias exists that are RELIABLY hardy in z6, and definitely not in a z5.
Dutch Gardens are liars!
I made a several attempts and only F. riccartonii overwintered in my 6b/7a garden. All three attempts to overwinter F. magellanica were complete bust.
In our climate it need part-sun to part-shade, perfect drainage and constantly moist neutral to alcaline soil.
Forest Farm has a lot to chose from, but...

Here is a link that might be useful: Fuchsias at FF
Linda G (zone 6a)
Original Author
16 years ago
What a bust. The hardiest fuchisa Forest Farm is a Z7!

Guess I'm stuck with containers.

Anyone grow Fuchia magellinica as a perennial?

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mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

Linda G (zone 6a)
Original Author

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Anyone grow Fuchia magellinica as a perennial?

Comments (8)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

Linda G (zone 6a)Original Author

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plympton_ma

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

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Linda G (zone 6a)Original Author

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Linda G (zone 6a)Original Author

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Linda G (zone 6a)
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