I live in zone 6a (used to be 5b) and I want to plant a winter hardy fuchsia. Anyone out there who has successfully grown hardy fuchsias in zone 6 or zone 7? I have had some luck with zone 7 perennials surviving for me.
Is it too late for me to plant a hardy fuchsia this year?
Even though this pic is not a hardy fuchsia, I felt compelled to post a fuchsia picture in honor of our new forum!
The Northwest Fuchsia Society has the best info on-line I've seen so far as to how and when to plant winter hardy fuchsias, including illustrations and a list of varieties they have field tested.
http://www.nwfuchsiasociety.com/
Okay, I give. I looked at the nw fuchsia society website & couldn't find info. about planting, caring for fucshias (except for pests)... Sorry to be so dense!
They hid it from us!
I was always so intent on looking at their list of hardy fuchsias, that I never stopped to look at the top of that page until just a couple of months ago, and there it was, instructions!
http://www.nwfuchsiasociety.com/hardies/hardyfuchsias.htm
Depending on where you live, I'd say it isn't too late to plant a winter hardy fuchsia. In most places, it doesn't really get that cold until December. I have family in Indiana and it rarely even snows where they are until January. Plus, if you are going to grow them indoors for the winter, then it for certain isn't too late.
In my zone, it is the perfect time to plant them outdoors so they can get settled in and be ready to bloom like crazy in the early spring. Most years, many varieties never stop blooming all winter. The red and white ones are like natural Christmas decorations, ha, ha!
We can have really cold weather in December, sometimes snow. I was worried if I planted a borderline zone hardy fuchsia, it wouldn't have enough time to establish itsself if our winter turns out to be really bad.
I had been thinking about the hardy Riccartonii (which I had seen at a local nursery in the spring), but I just read that if this plant experiences a hot, dry spell it will loose all its leaves. July and August can be in the 90s here for extended periods of time. A bush of sticks during the summer isn't what I had in mind. I am going to keep looking at other hardy fuchsias.
P.D. I have been using your NW Fuchsia Society links. Thanks. I also picked up another fuchsia book from the library today!
I would only be concerned if it was hot and dry. It is the combination that causes them to defoliate. Temperatures in the 90's wouldn't be a problem at all. I'd just make sure I planted it deep, in good soil, and didn't let it get dry in the summer. Most fuchsias don't deal well with being dry at all. They can handle it occasionally if they have a good root system, but basically, they should never be allowed to actually get dry.
Most recover without dropping their leaves, but their flowers can all dry up before opening.
PC: after my post it dawned on me I never let my plants get dry. Every morning I water whatever needs moisture, so keeping a hardy fuchsia from drying out isn't a problem during the warm months.
