Care of the shrub Fuchsia x hybrida or Hybrid fuchsia |
The genus Fuchsia, family Onagraceae, comprises 100 species of shrubs native to Central and South America, Tahiti and New Zealand. Some species are: Fuchsia x hybrida, Fuchsia magellanica, Fuchsia arborescens, Fuchsia boliviana, Fuchsia thymifolia, Fuchsia excorticata, Fuchsia microphylla, Fuchsia lycioides. Common names: Hybrid fuchsia, Fuchsia, Lady's Eardrops. Hybrid fuchsia is a cross between Fuchsia magellaniaca x Fuchsia coccinea x Fuchsia fulgens x Fuchsia arborescens. They are deciduous shrubs with a compact bearing and thin branches that reach 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in height. The leaves are opposite, oval-sharp in shape and with a toothed margin. The showy hanging flowers can be single or double and white, pink or multi-colored. They bloom in summer. These easy-to-grow plants are used in flower beds, as isolated specimens, and in pots for patios, terraces, balconies, and in greenhouses. Fuchsia x hybrida needs exposure to semi-shade or dimmed light, avoiding direct sun during the hottest hours of the day. It does not resist frost; do not expose it to less than 7 ºC (44.6 ºF). The soil can be a mixture of loamy soil, forest soil, coarse sand, and manure. The transplant is done in early spring. Water frequently so that the substrate is always damp but never watery. Hybrid fuchsia does not resist drought. Fertilize in autumn with compost or manure and mineral fertilizer every 20 days during the summer. Prune dry branches and wilted flowers after the flowering period Lady's Eardrops can be attacked by aphids and mites if it suffers from drought and by fungi if a lot of water accumulates in the roots. Hybrid fuchsia is propagated by cuttings in spring or summer. |
Images of the shrub Fuchsia x hybrida or Hybrid fuchsia |