What grows best in your area ?
With so many choices, what do YOU buy ?
Sylvia
Buying Fuchsia-What to buy for where
Z7 here - I prefer the hardy types, but there are not as many varieties available in the local nurseries. I also buy tenders, but then have that end of season angst about over-wintering them. (No gh or dark space that doesn't freeze). This year i will try to grow the tenders inside, or at least keep the root system alive.
I will be on the lookout for several new hardies next Spring.
Not sure if its true but heard you must be selective when buying in my area , because of the temps.
They dont like extreme heat.
I've been reading up on some unique varieties from a grower in Australia.
Cant believe how many beautiful ones there are, but unfortunately wont be able to grow here.
Sylvia
On numerous fuchsia searches (online or in books) I've come across the wording 'heat tolerant' used in the description of various varieties. Of course, there wasn't any explanation defining a 'heat tolerant' situation, but at least there are quite a few fuchsias this term was applied to. Maybe trying a 'heat tolerant' hardy fuchsia in the southeast, planted in a shady area and cooled off with sprays of water during the worst warm weather, will work in Florida and other SE states.
Instead of me listing all the plants, use this link:
http://www.fuchsias.net/catalog/fuchsias-uprights.htm
Only the upright fuchsias had this designation, no trailing.
And, of course, I have been making lists of the fuchsias I'll be buying from Earthworks as soon as they start taking mail orders again. For my hummers I'll be getting:
F. Mary (upright)
F. Roos Breytenbach (upright)
F. Caledonia (trailing)
F. Marinka (trailing)
F. Queen Elizabeth (trailing)
For Bonsai I'll thinking of getting:
F. Galadriel
F. Cyndy Pike
F. Karen Isles
I really want:
F. Neon Tricolor
F. boliviana
but can't find a source for the Neon, and the only source I've found for the boliviana hasn't responed to my email inquiry, which doesn't inspire me to place an order.
P.S., None of these are hardy in my area; the bonsai will be inside permanently, but all the others will have to be overwintered. I never make it easy on myself!
This message was edited Oct 19, 2009 4:47 PM
NW Fuchsia Society has a great list of heat tolerant fuchsias : http://www.nwfuchsiasociety.com/heat_tolerant_fuchsias.htm