Blooming Times: Fabulous Fuchsias

It’s autumn – and while other plants are dimming down, fuchsias are still blazing away. Flo Whitaker dives into the history of these amazing, glamorous flowers 

Throughout centuries of botanical study, plant names have been subject to change. Plants are constantly being categorised and re-sorted as arguments rage back and forth. 

A French botanist and missionary, Charles Plumier, (born 1646) invented the moniker ‘Fuchsia’, naming his exciting new discovery after a notable 16th century German physician, Leonhardt Fuchs. Plumier had form with regard to unilaterally naming stuff after fellow botanists, but life is a contrary rollercoaster ride and many once-famous characters from botanical history are long-forgotten. 

However, Plumier’s rollcall of honour somehow withstood the horticultural hurly-burly and survives to this day. Consequently, wehave the magnolia, (named by Plumier for Pierre Magnol, Directorof the Royal Botanic Gardens, Montpellier), the lobelia, (in memoryof Flemish physician and botanist, Matthias de l’Obel) and the begonia, (after Michel Bégon, a precocious 17th century French court official, naval officer and plant hunter). 

In the 1690’s, Plumier made several journeys to the West Indies and central/ south America. Alas, none of his plant specimens survived, but Plumier, along with his extensive notes and sketches, made it back to France. His book, ‘Nova Plantarum’ was published in 1703 and 

included a description of ‘Fuchsia tryphyllia flore coccinea’, (a migraine-inducing moniker, that can be simply translated as red/scarlet-flowered, with leaves arranged in groups of three). 

This jaw- dropping plant seemed so astonishing, it was scarcely believable. Indeed, without physical living specimens, the fuchsia was given semi- mythic status – but, in the 1780’s, some plant material, probably collected in Brazil, was given to Kew Gardens, where it thrived and bloomed – and Plumier’s fuchsia was revealed. Alas, Plumier was long-deceased, (1704) so his vindication was posthumous. 

Indigenous fuchsias mostly come from central/ south America, with just a few found in New Zealand and Tahiti. They are not frost-hardy, which made extensive cultivation of them impossible here until the industrial revolution gave us cheap(er) glass, advanced metalworking technology and mass-produced coal, which, in turn, gave rise to modern-style greenhouses, complete with boilers that warmed the air in harsh weather. As production line manufacturing methods were introduced, prices fell sufficiently for the professional middle classes to avail themselves of the latest gadgets advertised in horticultural journals and new-style gardening magazines. 

Greenhouses, no longer the preserve of gentry, started appearingin suburban gardens. The fuchsia, an easy-going plant that readily cross-pollinates, was well-placed to take advantage of this agreeable new environment. Regional fuchsia societies sprung up like bindweed, along with horticultural meetings and shows, where the latest varieties could be viewed and plants sold or swapped. 

Fuchsia’s uniquely-shaped blooms, gracefully arching stems and relatively long vase life made them a florist’s favourite. They were an essential ingredient in potted plant displays in fashionable Victorian and Edwardian parlours and decorative fuchsia motifs featured on home furnishings, clothing and jewellery. 

By the early 20th century, plants from around the globe were flooding into Europe. Gardeners had countless new introductions to tempt them and fuchsia’s dominance waned. During the First World War, millions of physically able men were sent overseas, creating labour shortages. Grand glasshouses were abandoned or repurposed to grow essential foodstuffs; a scenario repeated throughout WWII. 

By 1950, many significant country house plant collections had disappeared entirely. However, American fuchsia-fanciers were keeping busy, introducing exciting new forms, particularly large-flowered varieties that continue to be extremely popular, such as ‘Swingtime’, ‘Dark Eyes’ and ‘Hula Girl’. 

Modern-day gardeners have thousands of fuchsias to choose from. Some varieties are hardy souls that enjoy outdoor life. Others are best grown as potted specimens and overwintered in frost- free conditions – check the labels before you buy! They prefer a sheltered site and are happy in sun, provided they have moisture-retentive soil. 

Containerised plants greatly benefit from an addition of leaf mould in the potting mix. Some types thrive in light shade and there are varieties with golden or variegated foliage that looks good for months. Forms of F. magellanica are the toughest of all; they make decorative ornamental hedges and will survive virtually anywhere – except waterlogged sites. Fuchsias root easily from cuttings, which are best taken in spring or autumn. 

Diseases seldom bother fuchsias, but gall mites (a microscopic sap-sucking aphid) can be problematic, particularly here in the south-east. Remove affected stems immediately if you spot the distinctive shrivelled foliage, (avoid home-composting affected material as the temperature of your compost heap is unlikely to be sufficient to kill the aphids). 

Fuchsias, once considered exotic, have been relegated to the mundane. Supermarkets and DIY stores pile them high in cruel-looking steel cages; reduced to mere commodities, they may as well be tins of soup or cans of paint – but they deserve better. No other plant family is more hard-working or versatile. From a cascading hanging basket plant, to a hardy, long-lived border shrub, to a characterful cut flower – they can do the lot. It’s time to reappreciate the truly fabulous fuchsia.