Amateur Gardening

Semi-double red and white ‘Alice Hoffman’ AGM

frost. Therefore, there is no way it could be classed as hardy here.

It’s a salutary lesson, for many gardeners tend to buy fuchsias in the hope of keeping them outdoors, only to be disappoint­ed when they die at the first opportunit­y.

So, what is the main attraction of hardy fuchsias?. To start with, they have such a long flowering season. Some years they can be in flower at the end of May, and last until November or even December when the cold weather eventually sees o the top-growth. Few garden plants oer this kind of longevity.

Some years ago, the British Fuchsia Society asked its members if any of them had hardy fuchsias flowering on Christmas Day. Many did, from as far apart as Inverness and Cornwall, which proves that a fuchsia is good value for money!

Before we get into descriptio­ns of plants, it’s a good idea to know the names of the various parts of the fuchsia flower:

Tube – the longish, cylindrica­l, coloured part of the flower that attaches to the green ovary at the end of the stalk.

Sepals – the flared-out petal-like structures that are the extensions of the tube.

Corolla – the ‘skirt’, which may be single, double or semi-double, and which is usually a dierent colour to the sepals.

Filaments, anthers and stigma – these are the thin ‘legs’ of the ‘ballet dancer’, which generally hang down vertically, emanating from the corolla.

Some of the best hardy fuchsias

Dwarf

‘Alice Ho man’ AGM

First appearing in 1911, this is a beautiful semi-double. The tubes and sepals are rose-red, while the corolla is white with red veins. To just 45cm in height.

‘Dollar Prinzessin’

Probably seen more often as ‘Dollar Princess’, this hardy fuchsia from 1912 is dully double. The tubes and sepals are cherry red, while the coralla is dark purple.

‘Heidi Ann’ AGM

Hardy once establishe­d, this lovely freeflower­ing fuchsia has double flowers. The tube and sepals are an unusual crimsoncer­ise, while the corolla is lilac, veined with cerise.

’Tom Thumb’ AGM

This may be single or semi-double, with carmine tube and sepals, and a mauvepurpl­e corolla.

Medium-height

‘Annabel’ AGM

Fully double, the flowers are very femininelo­oking. The tube and sepals are a pinky white, whilst the corolla is creamy white.

Grows to 60-90cm in height.

‘Dorothy Hanley’

Fully double, this beautiful fuchsia features a dark red tube and sepals, flushed with aubergine, set against a corolla of dark aubergine.

‘Genii’ AGM

First appearing in 1951, this single-flowered fuchsia has leaves that are yellower and smaller than most other fuchsias. The tubes and sepals are cherry red, and the corollas are dark violet. Grow this in a sunny spot to enhance the colours.

Tall

‘Delta’s Sara’

Dark green leaves and reddish stems are accompanie­d by large, semi-double flowers with white sepals and violet blue petals. Grows to 90cm or more.