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Transcript
The Royal Horticultural Society RHS Bulletins The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. Its charitable work includes providing expert advice and information, advancing horticulture, training the next generation of gardeners, helping school children learn about plants, and conducting research into plants, pests and environmental issues affecting gardeners. The RHS AGM plant trial scheme is an important part of this work. Canna: September 2003 The RHS receives no government grants and for every pound received from members’ subscriptions we need to raise more than twice as much again to fund our charitable work. We also rely on donations and sponsorship to supplement income from our garden operations, flower shows, shops and plant centres. Potentilla (shrubby): July 2002 RHS Plant Trials With so many different types of gardener and so many different cultivars available to them in each group of plants, it is important that a system of recommendation is in place to help with selection at point of sale. These recommendations must be clear and reliable to ensure that of the thousands of plants available in the UK, a proportion are known to be excellent garden plants. The RHS provides this information through its extensive programme of plant trials held at RHS gardens in the UK. The RHS Award of Garden Merit signifies the selection of the best cultivar for general garden use. Daisies (yellow perennial): September 2004 Delphinium: June 2004 Geraniums (hardy) Stage 1: June 2005 Hyacinthaceae (little blue bulbs): September 2005 Lavenders (hardy): July 2003 Miscanthus: October 2004 Potatoes (salad): November 2004 Saxifrages (silver): May 2005 Spiraea japonica (with coloured leaves): November 2003 RHS Plant Trials and Awards These bulletins can be viewed at a larger size on the RHS Website: www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials_bulletins.asp RHS plant trials serve the professional gardener who wants to know the range of plants available, including the latest breeding and selection programmes, with their distinctive characteristics and provenance.They also serve the amateur who wants to know which plants will grow and perform well in a particular garden situation. The RHS has an unrivalled resource of knowledge and expertise and is therefore best placed to conduct plant trials for the UK gardening market. Trials Office RHS Herbarium The RHS Herbarium keeps a record of trial cultivars as dried specimens with detailed descriptions and photographic images. This forms an important reference for the horticultural industry. Any new cultivars are highlighted and a Standard specimen is preserved and described. The RHS Herbarium, stored at RHS Garden Wisley, is the largest active horticultural herbarium in the world. At present the collection contains about 80,000 herbarium specimens and over 30,000 images of plants. Material is actively collected from a wide spectrum of sources including RHS plant trials. RHS Garden Wisley Woking Surrey GU23 6QB e-mail: [email protected] Hardy Fuchsias Linda Jones Trials Officer, RHS Garden Wisley www.rhs.org.uk/trials Reg charity no. 222879 All text © Copyright RHS 2005 Images © Copyright RHS or photographer indicated Illustration © Copyright Niki Simpson ISSN: 1477-9153 (print) Diana M Miller Keeper of the RHS Herbarium, RHS Garden Wisley Bulletin Number 12 December 2005 ISSN: 1447-9161 (online) www.rhs.org.uk RHS Trial of Hardy Fuchsias Staging of the trial Aims and Objectives: to ascertain hardiness and to try to define a hardy fuchsia to assess and judge a range of hardy species and cultivars in order to recommend the Award of Garden Merit to those considered excellent for garden decoration to exchange information with other horticultural organisations and fuchsia growers to determine correct nomenclature to make a detailed record, including descriptions, images and specimens of all entries in the trial, to be kept in the RHS Herbarium as an archival reference Which fuchsias are hardy? RHS hardiness ratings H3 = hardy outside in some regions or particular situations H4 = fully hardy H3-4 = hardy outside in most regions In order to decide which fuchsia cultivars could properly be described as hardy several sources were consulted. The RHS holds records of three previous trials of hardy fuchsias that ran from 1928-31, 1961-63 and 1975-78 and provide valuable details of cultivars which have historically proved hardy in Britain. The British Fuchsia Society keeps a list of hardy fuchsias, numbering around 140 cultivars, that are eligible for exhibiting in that class. To obtain this rating the BFS requires that a cultivar has survived five consecutive winters outside in the UK. Trials of fuchsias held in Germany and The Netherlands offered information about which cultivars may be considered hardy in the colder but drier winters on the continent. These include such plants as ‘Brutus’, ‘Display’, Front cover: Fuchsia ‘David’ (Photo Laura Pearce) 2 cultivation in the early 19th century and has been bred with less hardy species such as F. coccinea, F. boliviana and F. splendens. It is interesting to note that many of the cultivars rasied over 100 years ago are still popular and reliable plants found in gardens today. Characteristics of hardy fuchsias ‘Dollar Prinzessin’, ‘Genii’, ‘Margaret Brown’, ‘Mrs Popple’, ‘Rose of Castile Improved’ and ‘Tom Thumb’, which have also proved effective plants in British gardens, each having received the Award of Garden Merit . In order to utilise the knowledge of the leading fuchsia growers throughout the UK, a questionnaire was sent to National Plant Collection® holders, head gardeners and specialist nurseries requesting their observations on hardiness and performance. There was a good response and their valuable input has been included in the findings of this bulletin. A study of these sources revealed a great range of views and experience. Not one cultivar gained a full hardiness rating from all contributors and it became clear that there were contradictory opinions as to the hardiness of any particular cultivar. Possibly because of the diversity of the parentage of hardy fuchsias it is difficult to be prescriptive to the group as a whole concerning cultivation and minimum temperature requirements. The Woody Plant Trials Subcommittee therefore concluded that all previous hardiness ratings given to the fuchsias in this bulletin should be adjusted to H3-4. This decision will require ratification at the next Award of Garden Merit Review in 2012. The hardy fuchsias of cultivation are deciduous to evergreen shrubs generally small, though F. magellanica will grow to 3m in favoured conditions. The leaves vary in size and colour, some being dark green, others yellow-green and others with a variegated cream or white margin. The flowers, usually pendulous and borne on slender pedicels, have a tube producing nectar in the base which, in the wild, attracts pollinating humming birds. The tube splits into 4 lobes which may be spreading to strongly reflexed (bent back). The 4 petals, usually differing in colour from the calyx, are rolled together or overlapping forming a cylinder or bell-shape. In the double or semi-double cultivars the petal number may be increased to more than 8. With few exceptions, the 8 stamens are longer than the petals and protrude, as does the style which may considerably exceed the stamens. The range of petal and sepal colour combinations, the length of the tube, the number of petals and the relative size of all the plant parts differentiate the vast selection of plants available. Parts of a Fuchsia flower New Award of Garden Merit (AGM) (H3-4) 2005 ‘Baby Blue Eyes’ ‘Bernisser Hardy’ ‘Conspicua’ ‘Corallina’ F. magellanica ‘Thompsonii’ ‘Mercurius’ ‘Saturnus’ Existing Award of Garden Merit * Indicates a recommendation that after this trial their AGM status should be reviewed in 2012 due to their having been superseded by improved cultvars, or in some other way no longer fulfilling the criteria of the award. ‘Achievement’* ‘Alice Hoffman’ ‘Alison Patricia’ ‘Army Nurse’ ‘Brutus’ ‘Chillerton Beauty’ ‘Dark Eyes’* ‘Display’* ‘Doctor Foster’ ‘Dollar Prinzessin’ ‘Empress of Prussia’ ‘Flash’ ‘Foxgrove Wood’* ‘Eva Boerg’ F. hatschbachii ‘Henning Becker’ ‘Jenny Sorenson’ ovary containing the ovules ‘David’ ‘Howlett’s Hardy’ ‘John E. Caunt’ F. magellanica var. gracilis ‘Aurea’ ‘Garden News’ ‘Genii’ ‘Hawkshead’ ‘Heidi Ann’* ‘Herald’* ‘Jomam’ ‘Lady Thumb’ ‘Lena’ ‘Liebriez’ ‘Madame Cornélissen’* F. magellanica var. gracilis F. magellanica var. gracilis ‘Variegata’* ‘Margaret’* ‘Margaret Brown’ ‘Mrs Popple’ ‘Mrs W.P. Wood’* ‘Phyllis’ ‘Prosperity’* ‘Riccartonii’ ‘Rose of Castile Improved’ ‘Rufus’* ‘Snowcap’* ‘Son of Thumb’ ‘Tom Thumb’ ‘White Pixie’* Others worth considering pedicel or flower stalk © The trial was first proposed by the RHS Woody Plant Trials Committee in 1998 under the chairmanship of the late John Bond. A list of proposed entries was drawn up with the assistance of the National Plant Collections® holder Roger Gilbert of Silver Dale Nurseries. To widen the scope of the results of the trial, the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society was invited to participate in a parallel trial in The Netherlands. The main trials ground in Germany is in Weihenstephan in Bavaria and hardy fuchsias were in their trial programme so links with them were proposed. When the trial at Wisley started to undergo difficulties with dieback and plant deaths, the Committee decided to visit the National Plant Collections® at Leicester University and RHS Harlow Carr in Yorkshire in order to fulfil their objectives. Assessing the collections and drawing on the experience and detailed records of the collection holders allowed a greater range of plants to be considered. 4 sepals joined at base to form calyx tube ‘Lady Boothby’ F. magellanica var. molinae ‘Sharpitor’ ‘Mephisto’ ‘Rhombifolia’ ‘Wharfedale’ The Award of Garden Merit To gain this award a plant must: In this bulletin we have only included those fuchsias that can normally be grown in the open all year round in most areas of the UK. calyx lobes be excellent for ordinary garden use be available be of good constitution History of garden fuchsias be reasonably easy to grow The genus Fuchsia contains about 100 species the great majority of which grow wild in South and Central America. Most species bear very distinctive scarlet, pendulous flowers which are adapted to pollination by humming birds. The genus was named after Leonhart Fuchs, a German herbalist and botanical artist who lived in the early sixteenth century. be reasonably resistant to pests and diseases be essentially stable in form and colour Thousands of cultivars have been raised from selections and crosses involving around a dozen species. The majority of hardy fuchsias are derived from crosses including F. magellanica which was introduced to RHS Plant Trials and Awards 4 petals (corolla) filament anther style stamen Judging The trial was assessed for the Award of Garden Merit by the Woody Plant Trials Subcommittee using the following criteria: hardiness; habit; impact; vigour (health); floriferousness; foliage Records stigma © Flowering time; flower to leaf ratio; height and spread; soil level minimum temperature; time and duration of frost Hardy Fuchsias 3 New Award of Garden Merit descriptions Colour codes were taken using the RHS Colour Chart. The fourth edition (2001) is available from RHSE Mail Order, Wisley, Surrey GU23 6QB. Measurements were taken in 2004 when the plants were about 3 years old. Fuchsia ‘Baby Blue Eyes’ AGM H3-4 2005 Fuchsia ‘Conspicua’ AGM H3-4 2005 Raised by Plummer USA in 1952. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias. Raised by G Smith in the UK in 1863. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias Plant erect. Height 90cm, spread 110cm. Stems flushed red. Leaves in pairs or whorls of 3, dull green, ovate with acute tip, slightly dentate, 3cm long, 1.5cm wide, midrib green; petiole length 0.6cm flushed red. Flowers drooping (rather than pendent), single, most frequently paired in leaf axils; peduncle 3cm long; calyx tube to 1cm, lobes 2cm long, 0.6cm wide, red (46B), spreading, becoming strongly reflexed, petals 1.2cm long, 1.4cm wide, purple close to but redder than (79B), at base pinkishred, redder than (64C); stamens protruding 2cm from petal tip, style and stigma protruding 2.5cm from petal tip. Plant erect and bushy. Height 65cm, spread 70cm. Stems deep pink (59A). Leaves in whorls of 3, dull green, ovate to oval with acute tip, margin entire very lightly serrate, to 4.5cm long, to 3cm wide, midrib deep pink (59A/B), petiole to 1cm long. Flowers single (sometimes semi-double), paired, peduncle to 4cm, calyx tube 0.8cm long, lobes to 3.2cm long, to 0.9cm wide, shiny varnished scarlet (45B), reverse paler (46C), strongly reflexed, petals to 1.8cm long, to 1.9cm wide, white (155D) veined red (53BB/C); stamens protruding to 1.5cm from petal tip, style and stigma protruding to 3cm from petal tip. Masses of flowers at height of season; distinctive violet blue corolla, small leaves and upright habit. Good shrub for the garden; outstanding. Fuchsia ‘Bernisser Hardy’ AGM H3-4 2005 Raised by Bas Weeda in The Netherlands in 1985. Sent by The Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. Plant erect to spreading. Height 100cm, spread 125cm. Stems red. Leaves in whorls of 3, slightly glossy green, lanceolate with acute tip, very slightly dentate, to 4cm long, to 1.5cm wide, midrib green. Flowers single, paired in leaf axils, peduncle to 1.5cm, calyx tube to 1.7cm, lobes 1.5cm long, 0.5cm wide, glossy scarlet, pinker than (45B), spreading, petals to 1.4cm long, to 1.1cm wide, vivid reddishpurple, redder than (71B); stamens just protruding to 0.5cm from petal tip, style and stigma protruding to 1.3cm from petal tip. Very distinct, shows flowers well; good flower to leaf ratio; flowering continuously right down the long stem; bees like it. Small narrow glossy leaves; masses of smallish flowers; excellent plant. 4 Deep green leaves with veins flushed pink, young foliage has bronze tinge; a marked contrast between the carmine calyx and white skirt. Plant low and spreading. Height 40cm, spread 150cm. Stems burgundy red. Leaves in whorls of 3, dull green, flushed pink at base and on veins, oval, with wavy, very slightly dentate margins, to 5cm long, to 2cm wide, midrib red. Flowers single, paired in leaf axils therefore 6 flowers to one whorl of leaves, peduncle red to 3cm long; calyx tube to 1.5cm long, lobes 2.5cm long, 0.5cm wide, scarlet red (46B/C), slightly spreading, petals 1.5cm long, 1.5cm wide, purple (79B) becoming red (45B) at base; stamens protruding to 2cm from petal tip and style protruding to 3cm from petal tip. Fuchsia ‘John E. Caunt’ AGM H3-4 2005 Raised by W P Wood in 1937. Sent by Burnside Fuchsias. Raised in the UK in 1994. Sent by Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias. Plant erect and bushy. Height 90cm, spread 100cm. Stems purplish-red (185C) at tips. Leaves in whorls of 3, dull green (137A), elliptic to lanceolate with acute tip, margins entire, to 3cm long, to 1.2cm wide, midrib cream. Flowers single, in leaf axils, peduncle 1.5cm long, calyx tube 0.6cm, lobes 1.6cm long, 0.60.7cm wide, vivid cerise red (47B) spreading, petals 0.6cm long, 0.6cm wide, rich purple (86A); stamens protruding 0.5cm from petal tip, style and stigma protruding to 1.5cm from petal tip. Plant spreading, quite compact and low growing. Height 60cm, spread 100cm. Stems lime-green flushed pale pink. Leaves opposite, bright green, ovate with acute tip, margins very lightly serrated, to 5cm long, to 3cm wide, midrib green. Flowers single, paired in leaf axils, peduncle to 5cm long, calyx tube to 1.7cm bright light red (52A), lobes to 3.4cm long, to 1cm wide, pinkishred (53C/D), strongly reflexed at tips, petals to 2.5cm long, to 2.4cm wide, rose pink (66C) edged bright pinkish-red (57A) veined a paler more orangey-pink (58C); stamens protruding to 2cm from petal tip, style and stigma protruding to 3.5cm from petal tip. Neat healthy shrub, distinctive and shapely. The very small red flowers smother the plant and are complimented by delicate, tiny leaves. Fuchsia ‘Howlett’s Hardy’ AGM H3-4 2005 BP Fuchsia ‘Corallina’ AGM H3-4 2005 Raised by Pince in the UK in 1844. Sent by Leicester University Botanic Garden; Balmoral Estate and Silver Dale Nurseries. Fuchsia ‘David’ AGM H3-4 2005 JH Distinct, floriferous, flowers produced to tips of stems, not damaged by rain. Raised by C Howlett in the UK in the early 1950’s. Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. F. magellanica var. gracilis ‘Aurea’ AGM H3-4 2005 Plant low mound. Height 40cm, spread 60cm. Stems very dark reddish-purple (187A/B). Leaves opposite, a yellowish-mid-green (137C), midrib deep red (187C), very slightly dentate, 7cm long, 3cm wide. Flowers single, peduncle 5cm long, calyx tube 1cm long, lobes 1.5cm long, 0.6cm wide, scarlet (46B/C) spreading to reflexed; petals bright purple veined red at base, fading to reddish-purple (64A). Plant compact mound. Height 70cm, spread 120cm. Stems rich red. Leaves opposite to whorls of 3, golden yellow to green, ovate with acute tip, slightly dentate, 4cm long, 2cm wide, midrib red. Flowers single, paired in leaf axils, peduncle 3.5cm long, calyx tube to 1cm long, lobes 2cm long, 0.5cm wide, scarlet close to (46A), weakly spreading; petals 1.1cm long, 1cm wide, dark purple (83A) pinky-red (64B) at base; stamens protruding to 2cm from petal tip, style and stigma protruding to 3cm from petal tip. The large, early flowers that last through the season and the bronzed foliage make this vigorous plant worthy of the AGM. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Sent by Balmoral Estate. This well-known plant is grown mainly for the golden yellow leaves that make it especially useful for brightening up a dull corner. As the foliage may be burnt by very strong sunlight, it is best grown in semi-shade. A robust plant. The large dark leaves and the scarlet and purple single flowers produced in abundance, make this cultivar worthy of the AGM. Can be used to scramble up trees or shrubs. RHS Plant Trials and Awards Hardy Fuchsias 5 Existing Award of Garden Merit descriptions F. magellanica ‘Thompsonii’ AGM H3-4 2005 Fuchsia ‘Saturnus’ AGM H3-4 2005 Raised by Thompson in the UK in 1840. Sent by Balmoral Estate, Leicester University Botanic Garden, Logan Botanic Garden and Silver Dale Nurseries. Raised by De Groot in The Netherlands in 1970. Sent by The Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. Plant erect sometimes spreading at base. Height 150cm, spread more than 100cm. Stems red. Leaves in whorls of 3, dull green, ovate with acute tip, slightly dentate, to 4cm long, to 1.8cm wide, midrib red at base. Flowers single, paired in leaf axils, peduncle 4cm long, calyx tube 0.7cm long; lobes 2cm long, 0.4cm wide, red, pinker than (53B), spreading; petals to 1cm long, to 0.8cm wide, purple (83A) becoming red (61B/C) towards base; stamens protruding to 2.9cm from petal tip, style and stigma to 3cm from petal tip. This cultivar is slightly shorter but stiffer and more upright-growing compared to other forms of F. magellanica, but will also make a useful hedge. The slender flowers on very long pedicels, although small, are numerous and produced over a long flowering period. Plant low, spreading. Height 65cm, spread 60cm. Stems red. Leaves paired to whorls of 3, dull green, ovate with acute tip, very slightly dentate, to 3.5cm long, 2cm wide, midrib green-red. Flowers single, solitary in leaf axils, peduncle to 2cm long, calyx tube to 0.8cm long; lobes to 3cm long, to 0.8cm wide, bright deep pink (58B), spreading; petals to 1.5cm long, to 1.7cm wide, purplish-violet (81B); stamens protruding to 1.5cm from petal tip, style and stigma protruding to 2cm from petal tip. Distinctive, narrow, glossy leaves. Neat compact mound. Good contrast between vivid carmine pink calyx and mauve corolla; flowers very numerous on a dwarf plant. This was the most popular among the public who visited the RHS trial. Fuchsia ‘Mercurius’ AGM H3 2005 Raised in The Netherlands by De Groot in 1971. Sent by The Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. Plant spreading to arching. Height 60cm, spread 120cm. Stems red. Leaves opposite paired, glossy green, ovate with acute tip, slightly dentate, 3.5cm long, 2cm wide, midrib red at base. Flowers single, stiffly drooping, solitary in leaf axils, peduncle 3.5cm long, calyx tube to 1cm long; lobes 3.5cm long, 1.3cm wide, glossy red, bluer than (45B), spreading becoming recurved as flowers mature; petals 2cm long, 2.5cm wide, a purplish-red (74A); stamens protruding to 2.5cm from petal tip; style and stigma to 2.7cm from petal tip. Please note the hardiness ratings of these cultivars were given at the time of the earlier AGM reviews. In light of the findings of the trial, the committee recommended that many of these ratings were inconsistent and that all should be given a hardiness rating of H3-4 (i.e. between the ratings of fully hardy and hardy outside in some regions or particular situations). This will be rectified at the next AGM Review in 2012. Measurements were taken in 2004 when the plants were 3 years old. 1 2 3 CG Fuchsia ‘Achievement’ (1) AGM H4 1993 Raised by Melville in the UK in about 1886. Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. Low, spreading, bushy plant with leaves of a golden hue. Height 45cm, spread 90cm. Flowers medium to large, single, with a long cerise calyx tube and narrow, strongly reflexed, red lobes, some tipped with green; petals dark purple becoming red at base with red veins; stamens and style red. The upright habit makes this a plant suitable for a border but the flowers are somewhat large for the plant size. Fuchsia ‘Alice Hoffman’ (2) AGM H3-4 2002 Raised by Kiese in the early 1900s in Germany. Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. A bushy, neat, round, floriferous plant with bronze-tinged small leaves. Height 50cm, spread 70cm. Flowers semi-double with calyx tube and spreading lobes rose pink; petals white, veined red; stamens pink and long-protruding style. Considered hardy in the The Netherlands. Suitable for small gardens. Fuchsia ‘Alison Patricia’ (3) AGM H3 2002 Raised by Johns in the UK in 1990. Sent by Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias. BP 4 A compact upright bushy plant. Height 30cm, spread 35cm (on a 2 year old plant – a late entry in the trial). Flowers single, held initially upright at tips of branches before drooping as the flowers mature, with dark pink calyx tube and pale pink lobes; petals purplish-rose veined red; stamens pink and style protruding. Fuchsia ‘Army Nurse’ (4) AGM H4 1993 Raised by Hodges in the USA in 1947. Sent by Leicester University Botanic Garden. A vigorous, upright, strong-growing plant. Height 110cm, spread 140cm. Flowers semi-double with deep carmine pink calyx tube and lobes that are strongly reflexed; petals a violet-blue, flushed pink at base; stamens bright pink and a very long-protruding style. The good habit, very striking colour and showy flowers make this a very popular, easy-to-grow plant. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. red calyx tube and lobes that are reflexed; petals purple tinged pink at the base; stamens crimson and longprotruding style. A good stocky plant, clean and tough. Considered hardy in The Netherlands and Germany. Fuchsia ‘Chillerton Beauty’ (6) AGM H3 1993 Raised in 1847 by Bass in the UK. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias, RHS Garden Wisley and Silver Dale Nurseries. A robust bushy shrub with reddish stems. Height 90cm, spread 120cm. Flowers single, with cream calyx tube, sometimes flushed pale pink, lobes spreading to horizontal, very pale pink, flushed darker pink inside, often tipped with green; petals violet to purplish-pink; stamens pale pink and very long-protruding style. Named after Chillerton, Isle of Wight. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Fuchsia ‘Dark Eyes’ (7) AGM H4 1993 Raised in the USA by Erickson in 1958. Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. Fuchsia ‘Brutus’ (5) AGM H4 1993 Raised by Lemoine in France in 1897 Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. An upright bushy, early flowering plant with bronze tipped foliage flushed purple. Height 40cm, spread 80cm. Flowers single, with vivid cerise- An upright, bushy plant. Height 35cm, spread 60cm. Flowers double with a short deep red to pink calyx tube and lobes, that are incurved to spreading; petals purple to violet-blue; stamens and styles red, protruding. In the trial it tended to hold onto the dead flowers. BP 5 6 7 Foliage beautiful green with a distinct sheen. The large single vibrant flowers, wine red stems and vigorous domed habit make this a very useful garden plant. 6 RHS Plant Trials and Awards Hardy Fuchsias 7 8 9 BP BP Fuchsia ‘Empress of Prussia’ (11) AGM H4 1993 Raised in the UK by Smith in 1881. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias. Raised by Hoppe in the UK in 1868. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias. A small shrub with dark foliage. Height 40cm, spread 70cm. Flowers single with reddish-pink short calyx tube and strongly reflexed lobes; petals rose-pink rather spreading; stamens rose pink and long style protruding. Considered hardy in The Netherlands and Germany. Died in trial. A strong-growing very floriferous plant with reddish-purple stems and dark green foliage. Height 40cm, spread 85cm. Flowers large, single with short vivid red calyx tube and lobes that are spreading; petals reddish-magenta becoming paler at base; stamens and style red, shortly protruding. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Raised by Lemoine in France about 1899. A bushy but rather low-spreading plant. Flowers single, with scarlet calyx tube and lobes that are reflexed; petals purplish-red; stamens red and style long-protruding. This cultivar is considered to be one of the best hardy, large-flowered, single cultivars. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Not in trial. Fuchsia ‘Flash’ (12) AGM H3-4 1993 Raised by Hazard and Hazard in the USA in the 1930s. Sent by Breach Lane Nursery. A rather stiffly erect shrub with rather pale foliage. Height 80cm, spread 110cm. Flowers on long pedicels, single, with light red calyx tube and lobes that are spreading; petals magenta to purple; stamens and style red. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Fuchsia ‘Dollar Prinzessin’ (10) AGM H4 1993 Fuchsia ‘Foxgrove Wood’ (13) AGM H3-4 2002 Raised by Kroger in Germany in 1910. Sent by Waltons Fuchsias. Raised by Ted Stiff in Felixstowe in 1993. An upright bushy shrub with dark foliage. Height 60cm, spread 70cm. Flowers double with short cerise calyx tube and lobes that are incurved, spreading to horizontal; petals rich purple becoming deep pink at the base; stamens red exceeded by a very long dark pink style. This plant is frequently listed as ‘Dollar Princess’ or under a number of other orthographic variants. Considered hardy in The Netherlands and Germany. BP 12 A bushy plant. Flowers single with pink calyx tube and lobes that are strongly reflexed; petals violet-blue. Not in trial. Fuchsia ‘Garden News’ (14) AGM H3-4 1993 Raised by Handley in the UK in 1978. Sent by Potash Nursery A low and spreading, very vigorous plant with large leaves, up to four flowers in each axil. Height 60cm, CG 13 11 16 BP Fuchsia ‘Display’ (8) AGM H4 1993 Fuchsia ‘Doctor Foster’ (9) AGM H4 2002 8 10 RHS Plant Trials and Awards 18 19 BP spread 90cm (2 year old plants - a late entry in the trial). Flowers very large, double, with stout rose-pink calyx tube and lobes that arch around corolla; petals magenta-pink; stamens white and long-protruding style. Resembles some of the more tender cultivars, was not hardy in trial but has proved hardy in RHS Harlow Carr and Leicester. Fuchsia ‘Genii’ (15) AGM H4 1993 Raised by Reiter in the USA in about 1951. Sent by Felixstowe & District Fuchsia Society, Jackdaws’ Field Nursery, Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias and Silver Dale Nurseries. An upright and bushy, free-flowering shrub with small lime yellow leaves and red shoots. Height 60cm, spread 90cm. Flowers small, single with vivid red calyx tube and lobes that are reflexed; petals deep purple; stamens red and a very long red style. Proved to be very popular with both the committee and the public. It is one of the best foliage plants and not known to revert. Considered hardy in The Netherlands and Germany. BP Fuchsia ‘Heidi Ann’ (17) AGM H3 1993 Fuchsia ‘Lady Thumb’ (19) AGM H3 1993 Fuchsia ‘Madame Cornélissen’ (22) AGM H4 1993 Raised by Mrs Smith in the UK in 1969. Sent by Dalesview, Logan Botanic Garden, Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias and Pettet’s Nursery. Raised by George Roe in 1966. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias. Raised by Cornélissen in Belgium in 1860. Sent by Leicester University Botanic Garden. A compact rounded shrub with stems flushed with pinkish purple and small dark green leaves with red midribs. Height 55cm, spread 70cm. Flowers double, with a stout crimson-red calyx tube and lobes that are incurved to horizontal; petals bright lilac-veined red. Stamens and long style pinkish-red. Raised by Sankey in UK in 1887. Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. An early and long-flowering, vigorous, bushy plant with rather pale foliage and red tinged stems. Flowers held slightly stiffly, single with short red calyx tube and lobes that are reflexed; petals purple, veined red fading to a reddish-purple; stamens and style red. Died in trial. Fuchsia ‘Lena’ (20) AGM H3 1993 A low-growing, spreading plant with pale green foliage. Flowers semi-double with pale pink calyx tube and lobes that are reflexed and tipped with green; petals magenta flushed with pink at the base; stamens and style pale pink. Similar to ‘Eva Boerg’ which has a greenish-white calyx tube, pinkish-white calyx and more purple corolla. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Not in trial. Fuchsia ‘Liebriez’ (21) AGM H3-4 2002 Fuchsia ‘Jomam’ AGM H3 2002 Fuchsia ‘Hawkshead’ (16) AGM H3-4 2002 Raised by Hall in Newcastle-uponTyne, UK in 1984. Raised by J Travis in the UK in 1962. Sent by Logan Botanic Garden. A rather small but bushy, upright plant. Flowers single with a short rosepink calyx tube and lobes that are reflexed and slightly twisted; corolla rather bell-shaped; petals mauve, veined with pink; stamens pale pink and style white. Not in trial. A robust plant with small bright green leaves and attractive green flower buds. Height 100cm, spread 110cm. Flowers single, very small and slender with white, flushed green, calyx tube and lobes; white petals which may be slightly flushed pale pink; stamens and style white and protruding. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. A dwarf floriferous shrub with small leaves. Height 25cm, spread 45cm. Flowers small, semi-double, with bright magenta calyx tube and lobes that are spreading; petals white slightly veined pink; stamens and style red, protruding. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Raised by Bunney in the UK in about 1860. Fuchsia ‘Herald’ (18) AGM H4 1993 BP 14 17 An erect but compact shrub with dark green leaves which have a purplish midrib. Height 80cm, spread 110cm. Flowers semi-double with rich red calyx tube and lobes that are horizontal to reflexed; petals white veined red; stamens and very long style red. Similar to ‘Conspicua’, which mostly bears single flowers and in the trial shed its dead flowers more readily. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. F. magellanica var. gracilis (23) AGM H3 1993 Sent by RHS Garden Wisley. A tall, vigorous, arching plant with long spreading reddish branches and leaves with red midrib. Height 140cm, spread 170cm. Flowers single, slender, with scarlet calyx tube and lobes that are spreading; petals dark purple; stamens and style red. This variety has a more graceful habit and slightly longer flowers than the species. Raised by Kohene in Germany about 1874. Sent by Dalesview, Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias and Pettet’s Nursery. A compact, low-growing plant. The small leaves, with red midrib, are almost hidden by the flowers. Height 40cm, spread 55cm. Flowers semidouble with deep carmine-pink calyx tube and horizontal lobes; petals spreading, white flushed pale pink, veined a deeper pink; stamens deep pinkish-red and long-protruding style. CG 15 20 21 22 Hardy Fuchsias 23 9 24 25 26 BP F. magellanica var. gracilis ‘Variegata’ (24) AGM H3 1993 Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. A graceful arching plant with dark red stems. Its green leaves are edged in cream, often flushed pink , with red midrib. Height 60cm, spread 110cm. Flowers slender, small, single with bright red calyx tube and lobes that are spreading; petals deep purple; stamens and long style red. This very old well-known cultivar is usually grown as a foliage plant. However it is prone to some reversion. Fuchsia ‘Margaret’ (25) AGM H4 1993 Raised by W P Wood around 1940. Sent by Felixstowe & District Fuchsia Society. A vigorous, upright, bushy plant. Height 150cm, spread 160cm. Flowers semi-double with bright red calyx tube and lobes that are strongly reflexed, some tipped with green; petals deep violet, veined red, pinker at the base; stamens and very long style purplish-red. This cultivar has a good clean colour but in the trial did not flower consistently every season. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Fuchsia ‘Margaret Brown’ (26) AGM H4 1993 31 32 BP BP Fuchsia ‘Phyllis’ (29) AGM H4 1993 Fuchsia ‘Riccartonii’ (31) AGM H3 1993 Raised by H A Brown in 1938. Sent by Felixstowe & District Fuchsia Society. Fuchsia ‘Mrs Popple’ (27) AGM H3 1993 A vigorous, wide-spreading shrub. Height 50cm, spread 80cm. Flowers single to semi-double, held slightly stiffly on long pedicels above foliage, with cerise-pink calyx tube and lobes that are broad and spreading; petals purplish-red; stamens and styles pale red and not long-protruding. This cultivar was named by Mr Brown after his sister, (one of his other sisters, Margaret, was immortalised by W P Wood’s cultivar ‘Margaret Brown’). Considered hardy in other gardens and in The Netherlands. Sent by Balmoral Estate, Jackdaws’ Field Nursery, J Lamb and Silver Dale Nurseries. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias and J England. A bushy upright but rather small plant with dark, red-tinged foliage. Height 90cm, spread 140cm (2 year old plant a late entry in the trial). Flowers single with a short crimson calyx tube and lobes that are broad and spreading; petals deep purple, paler at the base; stamens deep red and a very long style. This is an old cultivar, of unknown origin, discovered in 1930 by Clarence Elliott of Six Hills Nursery, Stevenage, in his neighbour’s, Mr and Mrs Popple, garden where it had grown on a bank by their tennis court for over 20 years. Mr Elliott exhibited the plant at an RHS Show in 1934 where it gained an Award of Merit. Considered to be fully hardy by all, except two growers, in the postal survey and in The Netherlands and Germany. Fuchsia ‘Mrs W. P. Wood’ (28) AGM H3 1993 Raised by W P Wood in the UK in 1949. Sent by RHS Garden Wisley. A bushy plant with rich green leaves. Height 100cm, spread 140cm. Flowers small, single, with a long rose-pink calyx tube and lobes that are spreading; petals purplish-pink veined with darker pink; stamens pink and a paler style. A reliable, free-flowering plant named 28 29 Fuchsia ‘Prosperity’ (30) AGM H3 1993 Raised by Clifford Gadsby in the UK in 1974. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias. A compact plant with reddish stems and glossy green bronze-tinged foliage. Height 60cm, spread 55cm. Flowers large, double held on very long pedicels, glossy, crimson, stout calyx tube and thick lobes that are spreading; petals pale rose-pink veined and flushed with a deeper pink; stamens and long-protruding style deep red. This cultivar has one of the largest double flowers of the hardier types making it a spectacular plant in flower. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. 33 BP after Mrs Margaret Slater (neé Brown), past President of the British Fuchsia Society. Considered hardy in The Netherlands and Germany. A vigorous, upright, bushy plant with pale green foliage. Height 130cm, spread 200cm. Flowers very small, single with pale pink to white calyx tube and lobes that are spreading and tipped with green; petals white, sometimes slightly flushed pale pink; stamens and style cream and longprotruding. Mr Wood named this fuchsia for his wife. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Raised by W P Wood in 1949. Sent by Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias. 27 A tall vigorous and upright plant with red stems and rather small dark green, red-veined leaves. Flowers on long thin pedicels, are slender, single, with a long scarlet tube and lobes that are long, narrow and spreading; petals dark purple; stamens and style red. Reaching to 2-3m or more, it is a popular flowering hedge in the milder and more humid areas of the west coasts of the UK. In dryer and colder regions it will be cut down in the winter, but will shoot again from the base in the spring and flower profusely in late summer and well into the autumn. One of the best known fuchsias, raised by James Young in the 1830s at Riccarton near Edinburgh. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Died in trial. Fuchsia ‘Rose of Castile Improved’ (32) AGM H4 2002 Raised by Edward R R G Banks in Kent in 1869. Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. A vigorous bushy upright plant. Flowers large, single with a short calyx tube white flushed pink; lobes spreading, white flushed pink, darker within, tipped green; petals violet veined pink; stamens pink and style white. It is similar but larger in flower to ‘Rose of Castile’ both raised by Edward R R G Banks. Fuchsia ‘Rufus’ (33) AGM H3-4 2002 Raised by Nelson in the USA in about 1952. Sent by RHS Garden, Wisley. A vigorous and early-flowering, bushy 34 BP plant with dark purplish-red stems and red-veined leaves. Height 50cm, spread 55cm. Flowers single with bright red calyx tube and lobes spreading to reflexed; petals dusky red; stamens red and long-protruding style. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. A very hardy dwarf plant. Considered hardy in The Netherlands and Germany Fuchsia ‘Snowcap’ (34) AGM H3-4 1993 An upright, bushy plant with yellowish-green leaves veined red. Flowers small, single with a slender red calyx tube and lobes that are red, broad, spreading to slightly reflexed; petals white veined with reddish-pink; stamens and style reddish and longprotruding. This sport of ‘Pixie’ appears to have arisen independently several times in the mid 1960s but one named ‘White Pixie’ from Merrist Wood in Surrey received the RHS Award of Merit in 1968. Unfortunately it reverted readily in the trial. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Died in trial. Raised by Henderson in the UK in about 1880. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias. An upright but dwarf shrub with small leaves. Height 40cm, spread 50cm. Flowers, semi-double with red calyx tube and lobes that are reflexed and tipped green; petals white veined with red. Stamens and style red, protruding. Considered hardy in The Netherlands. Fuchsia ‘Son of Thumb’ (35) AGM H4 1993 Raised by Gubler in the UK in 1978. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias. A profusely flowering, small compact mounded plant with red flushed stems. Height 30cm, spread 70cm. Flowers small, single, occasionally semi-double, cerise-pink calyx tube and lobes that are spreading; petals lilac coloured; stamens and style red. A sport of ‘Tom Thumb’. Fuchsia ‘Tom Thumb’ (36) AGM H3 1993 Raised around 1850 in France. Sent by Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias. A small, neat, compact, mounded, very free-flowering plant with small leaves. Height 30cm, spread 60cm. Flowers single, small with scarlet calyx tube and lobes that are spreading; petals violet-purple with deep reddish-pink; stamens and style long-protruding. Fuchsia ‘White Pixie’ (37) AGM H3-4 2002 Sent by Breach Lane Nursery. Other hardy fuchsias worth considering Fuchsia ‘Eva Boerg’ (38) A compact plant with a spreading to somewhat trailing habit. Height 50cm, spread 80cm. Flowers semidouble, large, with cream calyx tube flushed with green, lobes cream flushed pale pink and green tipped, reflexed; petals pinkish-purple with a paler base; stamens and style pale pink. Raised by Yorke in 1943. The habit of this plant makes it especially suitable for containers and although flowering over a long period, in the trial did not always bear many flowers at any one time. Sent by The Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. BP BP 10 RHS Plant Trials and Awards 30 35 36 37 Hardy Fuchsias 38 11 39 40 41 42 Cultivation in trial Site An exposed site in a known frost pocket. Sandy soil pH6.5. JH F. hatschbachii (39) Tall, upright plant, height 140cm, spread 100cm. Long, narrow, lanceshaped leaves arranged in 4’s at each node, purplish-red when young, and pale tan-coloured young stems. It has the large, single, pendulous flowers to 2.5 cm long on very long pedicels with glossy scarlet calyx tube and lobes and dark purple petals with very long red stamens and style. This species grows wild in Brazil and has been known in cultivation in this country since 1989. Sent by Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias. Fuchsia ‘Henning Becker’ (40) A bushy plant with a neat habit and red stems. Flowers single, rather rounded in shape with a short, very glossy scarlet calyx tube and spreading lobes; petals purple with red stamens and long style. This plant was not in the trial but seen by the subcommittee at Harlow Carr. Raised by Strümper in Germany in 1985. Fuchsia ‘Jenny Sorenson’ (41) A small neat plant with rather small leaves. Flowers single, facing outwards rather than drooping, with bright rosypink reflexed lobes and mauve-pink petals with pinkish stamens and style. This reliable and attractive plant was not grown in the trial but seen by the subcommittee at Leicester Botanic Garden. It was raised in the UK in 1987 and named for a Grimsby fishing boat. Fuchsia ‘Lady Boothby’ (42) A very tall upright plant which with support can reach over 5m against a wall. The internodes (the length of stem between the leaves) are exceptionally long and the dark green leaves have a red midrib. Flowers single with crimson JH calyx tube and spreading lobes and dark purple petals, pink at the base and veined with deep pink. Stamens and style crimson. This cultivar, raised in UK by Raffill in 1939, is known as the climbing fuchsia and is derived from the species F. regia which in the wild in Brazil can climb to 15m. Although it died in the trial, it is known to survive in many other gardens and was seen at both Harlow Carr and Leicester Botanic Garden. Sent by Little Brook Fuchsias. F. magellanica var. molinae ‘Sharpitor’ (43) An upright bushy plant with very small grey-green leaves margined with creamy-white. Height 70cm, spread 100cm. Flowers on long pedicels, very small, single with very pale pinkishlilac lobes with very slightly darker petals with pale pink stamens and style. This cultivar is an ideal foliage plant but less significant for flower. It arose as a sport of ‘Mrs W.P. Wood’ in the mid 1970s at the National Trust property of Sharpitor in Devon. Sent by Balmoral Estate. F. magellanica var. gracilis ‘Tricolor’ (44) An arching plant with reddish stems and small greenish-grey leaves margined with creamy-white and a pinkish tinge. Height 130cm, spread 140cm. Flowers single, small and slender with vivid red lobes that are twice as long as the deep purple petals; long-protruding red stamens and style. There is some confusion about the correct identity of this plant and concern about whether it is distinct from the plant grown in the gardens as JH ‘Versicolor’. The two appeared identical in trial and, like ‘Versicolor’, it reverts readily. Sent by Leicester University Botanic Garden. Fuchsia ‘Mephisto’ (45) An upright and bushy plant. Height 75cm, spread 90cm. The small single flowers are held in clusters well away from the foliage and less pendulous than in the majority of cultivars. Long calyx tube and reflexed lobes scarlet; corolla deep crimson; stamens and long style red. This cultivar was raised by Reiter in the USA in 1941. In the trial the flowers appeared to be damaged by sun, so it is probably best grown in semi-shade. Sent by The Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. 12 45 46 RHS Plant Trials and Awards Much of the trial plot became waterlogged in the winter of 2001/2002 and in August 2002 it was noted some entries, particularly ‘Riccartonii’ and F. magellanica variants were looking ‘tired’ and some entries had stems with dieback. The plants and irrigation water were tested for Phytophthora and found to be negative. Gert Fortgens, Director of the Trompenburg Arboretum visited the trial at Wisley in September 2003 and reported that they had experienced similar problems with up to 25% of their plants being affected. To date, despite extensive tests in the Pathology Department at Wisley, no cause for the condition has been found. Woody Plant Trials Committee Fuchsia ‘Wharfedale’ (47) A vigorous bushy plant. Flowers single with clean white calyx tube and spreading to recurved lobes; petals magenta; stamens reddish and a longprotruding white style. This plant was raised by Hansen in the UK in 1993. It was not in the trial but seen by the Committee at University of Leicester Botanic Garden. CG 44 165 separate entries were submitted by 18 senders (including the National Plant Collections® holders, other specialist nurserymen in the UK, The Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society in the Netherlands and gardens such as Logan Botanic Garden and the Balmoral Estate in Scotland as well as the RHS Garden Wisley). To ensure plants were of a uniform age and size at the start of the trial all entries were received as cuttings. Sources that held open ground stock plants sent rooted cuttings in September 1999, these were held under glass at Wisley and spring cuttings were taken in March 2000. Sources that held glasshouse protected stock plants sent cuttings in March 2000. All plants were grown on to 2 litre pot sized plants and over-wintered for planting out in the trial plot at the end of May 2001. Plants in the parallel trial at the Trompenburg Arboretum in Rotterdam were planted in 2001 in a more typical garden setting, amongst trees and other plants, they were cut back in spring at the first signs of growth. Plant deaths Fuchsia ‘Rhombifolia’ (46) A free flowering, upright bushy but open plant with small leaves. Height 110cm, spread 110cm. Flowers single, very small but numerous with vivid scarlet calyx tube and spreading lobes; petals purple; stamens pale red and style red and very long. It was very distinct in appearance and popular with committee and public alike. It is thought to be a seedling of ‘Riccartonii’ raised by Lemoine in France. Sent by Silver Dale Nurseries. BP 43 Plants 47 Chairman: Peter Catt Vice Chairman: John Hillier Acknowledgements Photography: All photographs by Laura Pearce, copyright © RHS Wisley, except where indicated; Barry Phillips (BP) copyright © RHS Herbarium; Carol Gubler (CG); John Hillier (JH) Illustration: © Niki Simpson Particular thanks are due to Trials Recorders Laura Pearce, Melanie Dashwood and Chrissie Ferriroli for the recording, sourcing and reporting of this trial; to Barry Phillips (Herbarium Technician) for the collection and skilful arrangement of herbarium specimens and to James Armitage (Botanist, RHS Wisley) for assistance with nomenclature. RHS Curatorial staff, headed by Jim England. Thanks to Carol Gubler (of Little Brook Fuchsias) and National Plant Collections® holders: Roger Gilbert (of Silver Dale Nurseries), Jack Lamb (hardy species), Barrie Frankland (University of Leicester Botanic Garden), Andrew Simmons (Balmoral Estate), A Dallas (of Croxteth Hall) and K Muncaster (of Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias); as well as the other senders, for so generously supplying plants. Further reading Members: Chris Brickell Maurice Foster Michael Hickson Roy Lancaster David Masters Harvey Stephens Felixstowe & District Fuchsia Society, 20 Melford Way, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 2UE Jackdaws’ Field Nursery, Maplehurst, Horsham, W Sussex, RH13 6LL Kathleen Muncaster Fuchsias, 18 Field Lane, Morton, Lincs, DN21 3BY J. Lamb, National Collection of Fuchsia Species, 9 Austen Drive, Bramley, Rotherham, S66 2UF Little Brook Fuchsias, Ash Green Lane West, Ash Green, GU12 6HL Logan Botanic Garden, By Stranraer, Wigtonshire, Scotland, Pettet’s Nursery, Poison Cross, Eastry, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 0EA Potash Nursery, Cow Green, Bacton, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 4HJ Notcutts Nurseries Ltd, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 9QY The Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society, Voorofscheweg 390, 2771 MS Boskoop, The Netherlands Silver Dale Nurseries, Schute Lane, Combe Martin, North Devon, EX34 0HT Swallowfield Nurseries, Eastergate Lane, Eastergate, Chichester, PO20 6ST University of Leicester Botanic Garden, Leicester, LE1 7RH Waltons Fuchsias, 54 Burford Lane, Lymm, Warrington, Cheshire, WA13 0SH Bartlett, G. (1996) Fuchsias, a Colour Guide. The Crowood Press, Marlborough, Wiltshire. David Clark John Gallagher John Humphris Chris Lane Chris Sanders Archie Skinner Bartlett, G. (2000) Fuchsias, The New Cultivars, The Crowood Press, Marlborough, Wiltshire. Boullemeier, L. B. (2nd edition, 1988) The Checklist of Species, Hybrids and Cultivars of the Genus Fuchsia. Blandford Press, London. Senders of plants to the trial Balmoral Estate, East Lodge, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB3 5TB Breach Lane Nursery, no longer trading Burnside Fuchsias, Parsonage Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 4AG Clay Lane Nursery, 3 Clay Lane, South Nutfield, Nr. Redhill, Surrey, RH1 4EG Dalesview, 24 Braithwaite Edge Road, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD22 6RA Johns, E. A. (1997) Fuchsias of the 19th and Early 20th Century. An Historical Checklist of Fuchsia Species & Cultivars, pre-1939. The British Fuchsia Society, Kidderminster, Worcestershire Saunders, Eileen (1971-1987) Wagtails Book of Fuchsias. Wagtail Fuchsia Publications, Lechlade, Gloucestershire. Vols I-V. Wright, J. O. (1979) Fuchsia, A garden history. The Plantsman Vol I (3): 181–186 Hardy Fuchsias 13 Selection guide to hardy fuchsias Name Colour of sepal : petal Flower* Notes Dwarf compact (25cm – 40cm high) pale crimson : pink F. ‘Lady Thumb’ rose : white F. ‘Tom Thumb’ Early flowering = 50% flowering in mid-June Colour of sepal : petal SD cerise : lilac F. ‘Achievement’ red : purple Pretty little flower. F. ‘Bernisser Hardy’ red : violet Flower* cerise : lilac rose : white F. ‘Baby Blue Eyes’ red : lilac Shows flowers well, continuous flowering. Good flower to leaf ratio. F. ‘Corallina’ scarlet : purple Early flowering. Vigorous, low, spreading with scrambling habit. Flowers usually single but sometimes semi-double. carmine : mauve F. ‘Alice Hoffmann’ Neat habit. F. ‘Empress of Prussia’ scarlet : magenta Small leaf. Neat and floriferous. F. ‘Gardens News’ pink : rose SD cerise : purple F. ‘John E. Caunt’ red : pink Jolly good garden plant, lot of vigorous growth. F. ‘Phyllis’ cerise : purple red : purple Early flowering. Outstanding, a really good shrub F. magellanica var. gracilis for the garden. ’Variegata’ Bronze tipped foliage. Good stocky plant, clean F. ‘Mercurius’ Large flower. D F. ‘Chillerton Beauty’ pink : violet Early flowering. F. ‘Conspicua’ scarlet : white Corolla a cleaner white than ‘Madame F. ‘Dark Eyes’ red : violet F. ‘David’ red : purple F. ‘Display’ pink : pink F. ‘Dollar Prinzessin’ cerise : purple D D SD Leaves margined cream. A very good variegation red : violet Bronze shoots tinged red. Super plant, lovely F. ‘Flash’ F. ‘Genii’ “varnished” sepals and a nice habit. F. magellanica var. gracilis Tends to hold on to its dead flowers. F. ‘Rose of Castile Improved’ white : purple Very small flower and tiny leaves. Early Tall and bushy habit (100cm + high) flowering. F. ‘Army Nurse’ red : pink Spreading petals. F. ‘Doctor Foster’ scarlet : violet Early flowering. F. ‘Hawkshead’ white : white red : magenta Early flowering. Light green foliage. Very distinct F. ‘Howlett’s Hardy’ scarlet : purple F. ‘Liebriez’ cerise : white F. ‘Madame Cornélissen’ red : white F. ‘Mephisto’ scarlet : crimson No correct entry in trial. White, small flower. Pretty pale green buds. Clean pink : pink Early flowering. Distinct with its fairly small rosy-pink flowers and rich green foliage. red : violet Yellow foliage contrasting well with red stems. F. ‘Mrs W. P. Wood’ pale pink : white Early flowering. Very small flower. Very vigorous plant. F. ‘Rhombifolia’ scarlet : purple Tiny flowers. Very tall and vigorous. SD Tall and arching habit Reliable. F. ‘Riccartonii’ red : purple Very pretty. F. magellanica ‘Versicolor’ red : purple No difference between this and ‘Tricolor’ found in the trial. SD Distinct. A good free-flowering red. F. magellanica var. gracilis red : purple Leaves grey-green tinted silver, some partially ’Tricolor’ 14 F. ‘Prosperity’ crimson : pale pink F. ‘Rufus’ red : red F. ‘Snowcap’ red : white D A good plant. F. ‘Margaret’ D SD SD with good flower to leaf ratio. Compact plant. red : violet Early flowering. light green foliage. F. ‘Margaret Brown’ F. ‘Heidi Ann’ Similar, but larger plant and foliage a slightly brighter yellow than ‘Genii’. Very hardy. Does not revert. scarlet : purple Very small leaf, grey-green edged white. cerise : violet red : purple F. ‘Mrs Popple’ white/pale lilac Large leaf. but there was some reversion in the trial. Cornélissen’. ’Sharpitor’ Large flower. Early free-flowering. Flowers held well. and tough. F. magellanica var. molinae Notes Foliage with a golden hue. Small leaf. Super plant, compact and Medium height and bushy habit (40cm – 90cm high) F. ‘Brutus’ Name Flowers held erect above foliage. floriferous. F. ‘Son of Thumb’ D = double flower (8 or more petals) SD = semi-double flower (5-8 petals) Medium height and spreading habit F. ‘Alison Patricia’ F. ‘Saturnus’ Flower* margined white, young growth with red-purple hue. Very compact. Very hardy and reliable. SD RHS Plant Trials and Awards Would be AGM plant if it did not revert. F. magellanica var. gracilis red : purple Early flowering. Very tall arching stems. F. magellanica ‘Thompsonii’ red : purple Early flowering. Strong upright growth. Hardy Fuchsias 15