I am new to fuchsia and am overwhelmed by the choices. I have a window greenhouse that faces east and would like a few small trailing fuchsias, brightly colored. On the internet I was looking at Swing Time, Mama Bleues, Red Shadows and Lady Beth. But I don't know the sizes of these plants. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Too many choices!
Hey, Siggy. Welcome.
This will be a very short note from me (unusual) until I get a bit more time. But here's a list of links I use when looking for fuchsias. There are pics and sizes and general info that is very helpful. The last link is in the U.K., but great pics.
http://www.fuchsias.net/
http://www.storesonlinepro.com/store/2418111/fuchsiacatalogue
http://www.joycreek.com/index.htm
http://www.jordannurserygreenhouses.com/
http://www.claylane-fuchsias.co.uk/index.htm
A quick question before I start researching: how big can your trailing fuchsias get in the space you want to grow them? Some of the varities you mentioned may get up to 2 feet tall and probably more than that wide.
This message was edited Jan 14, 2010 9:41 AM
This message was edited Jan 14, 2010 9:44 AM
I am looking forward to the day when DavesGarden will be the best source of info on fuchsias! With photos of the blossoms and the entire plant, so people will have a good idea what form it is going to take. Even now, you can do an advanced search using height and colors.
Yet, there are lots of blank spaces we need to fill in.
Meanwhile, a good rule of thumb for the smaller fuchsias can be small leaf size. Not always true of course, as the magellanicas would not fit this statement. But in general, you get a smaller and more compact plant. Otherwise, hanging basket or trailing fuchsias usually benefit from lots of pinching and you can always keep one small that way.
Nice sites hummer_girl!
Thanks for the responses! I've been looking at the great links. Smaller would be better. I would love it if they were under a foot tall but trailed down a couple of feet.
Siggy: from you original choices I'm thinking you like the double blooms. So can we narrow our search to double blooms, or does it really matter? Favorite colors?
I Like doubles. And love show stopping color combos. Looking online I like Mama Bleuss, Deep Purple, Love Song, Bees Keesey, Snow Burner...And about fifty others. I'm blown away by how many spectacular varieties there are! But alas I don't have room for all of them.
Siggy: it might take me a day or two to go through my books, but keep looking online and if you come across any that meet your color/size, let us know which ones you'll be putting on your 'to buy' list.
Thanks!
My little database will help out in the future. I can sort for double/single/semi-double, size of bloom, height, sepal color, and corolla color. And it will give me a list of names. I have also included info like heat hardy or cold hardy.
I am trying to think of a name for the website to upload it to so we can all use it. What do you think of "AListOfFuchsias.info?"
So far, I have over 1500 entries. All uprights so far, but many are also mounding. In other words, they can also be used in hanging baskets. If all goes well, next winter I can feed it data for the hanging basket varieties.
Siggy: I have 5 Fuchsia books and only one had plant size included in the information. Just like some fuchsia websites, size isn't stated in descriptions. I don't understand that.
Anyway, here's what I found for double blooms, trailing, under 12" in height:
Bella Rosella
6"-9" H x 18"-24" W
larger than average flowers; blooms hang down like miniature Chinese lanterns
tube and sepals pale pink with a hint of greenish white
corolla rich mauve with hem of magenta
http://www.fuchsias.net/catalog/Trailing-Lg/Bella%20Rosella-Lg.htm
Blueberry Fizz
9"-12" H x 18" W
white to pink blush sepals
purple-blue corolla
http://www.fuchsias.net/catalog/Trailing-Lg/Blueberry%20Fizz-Lg.htm
Deep Purple
9"-12" H x 12"-18" W
sepals white
corolla purple
http://www.fuchsias.net/catalog/Trailing-Lg/Deep%20Purple-Lg.htm
Dusky Rose
6"-9" H x 18"-24" W
sepals deep pink
the rose-red corolla fades to a raspberry sherbert color
http://www.storesonlinepro.com/store/2418111/product/Trailing%20Fuchsia%20%20Dusky%20Rose
Ellen White
10"-12" H x 12" W
lime green turning to white sepals with a hint of pink on tips
creamy white corolla
http://www.fuchsiamagic.com/fuchsias/ellen_white.htm
Eureka Red
9"-12" H x 15"-18" W
dark pinkish-red and white sepal and tube
pinkish-red corolla
http://westwood.fortunecity.com/rocco/83/fuchsiae.htm
Holly's Beauty
9"-12" H x 15"-18" W
white sepals with a flush of pale rose
muted orange corolla
http://www.fuchsiamagic.com/fuchsias/hollys_beauty.htm
Molesworth
6"-9" H x 12"-15" W
cherry sepal
white corolla
http://westwood.fortunecity.com/rocco/83/fuchsiam2.htm
Palm Springs (extraordinary blooms)
6"-8" H x 14" W
frosted pink sepals with white tips
rosy-red corolla
http://www.fuchsiaplants.co.uk/LCAAT.htm
http://www.fuchsiaplants.co.uk/09pics/AllAmericanTrailers/palmsprings.JPG
The picture I saw in my DG Garden Guide for F. Palm Springs was a flower with the corolla much more open, almost like a tutu, nearly horizontal and frilly.
Pink Galore (no direct sunlight)
9"-12" H x 18"-24" W
candy pink sepals tipped with green
candy pink corolla
http://www.fuchsias.net/catalog/Trailing-Lg/Pink%20Galore-Lg.htm
Powder Puff
9"-12" H x 15"-18" W
rose-pink sepals with green tips
apple blossom pink corolla
http://www.fuchsiamagic.com/fuchsias/ppuff.htm
Royal Mosaic
9"-12" H x 15"-18" W
cream and pink marbling sepals
violet-blue turning to rose tinted corollas
http://www.fuchsias.net/catalog/Trailing-Lg/Royal%20Moasic-Lg.htm
Sunset Boulevard (keep out of strong direct sunlight)
6"-10" H x 10" W
velvety purple, burgundy, red and pink sepals and corollas
the sepals are lighter; the colors deepening in the corolla
http://www.fuchsiamagic.com/fuchsias/sunset_boulevard.htm
Here are some on your list that are larger:
Snow Burner
12"-18" H x 18"-24" W
red sepals
white corolla
Swing Time
12"-24" H x 18"-30" W
red sepals
white corolla
Red Shadows
12"-24" H x 15"-18" W
red sepals
burgundy corolla
I hope this helps narrow down your choices. Remember, you can pinch and prune to keep a fuchsia smaller than it would naturally grow, but where you pinch and prune will have an affect on growth and blooming, so keep that in mind and try to do a mental image of what the plant will look like after the cut (before you use the scissors).
Happy Fuchsia Buying!
Editing in picture links:
This message was edited Jan 16, 2010 12:42 PM
This message was edited Jan 16, 2010 1:21 PM
This message was edited Jan 16, 2010 1:42 PM
Well all this help inspired me to buy 16 fuchsias. Way more than I had intended. They just all look so cool! Thanks again for all the info :-)
Another Fuchsia Addict has been added to the ranks. Welcome aboard, Siggy!