GARDENING : Fuchsias Can Put Plots in the Pink
Although fuchsias have no fragrance, their bright colors and striking flower forms captivate humans and hummingbirds alike.
Fuchsias thrive in Orange County’s coastal climate, although inland dwellers needn’t despair since some varieties will also grow there.
These shrubs are also noteworthy for their long period of bloom, usually from late spring through late fall. They’re popular in hanging baskets, as upright or cascading shrubs and espaliered on a trellis. Growers have even created fuchsias as patio tree forms.
They prefer filtered sunlight, so in gardens they do best if grown under a tall tree or against the north side of a house. They’ll tolerate an eastern exposure if protected from direct sun.
The ancestor of the fancy modern fuchsia originated in the cool, moist mountains of South America, and today’s descendants also prefer moist ocean air. Fortunately, hybridizers have also developed varieties that can tolerate, or even thrive, in hotter areas.
“Generally, the varieties with darker colors are more heat-tolerant,” said Jill Meyers who, with her husband, Bob, owns and operates Stubbs Nursery in Leucadia. They grow several hundred different named varieties. They wholesale some to Nurseryland stores throughout Orange County as well as selected independent nurseries.
Although fuchsias have a reputation for being time-consuming, difficult plants, the Meyerses and other experienced fuchsia fanciers think the shrubs have gotten a bum rap.
“Experienced fuchsia people feel they grow like weeds,” Jill Meyers said.
The secret for success with fuchsias is to pinch and prune consistently, and, as with any plant, maintain a proper and consistent watering and feeding program.
Most fuchsias are already blooming now, and their major needs are water, pest control and judicious fertilizing. Ideally, they do best with a very light dose of an all-purpose fertilizer with each watering. Some people prefer using a time-release fertilizer once a month. Others like to use a foliar fertilizer at half the recommended dosage weekly.
Meyers cautions against fertilizing during the hot summer months because it causes extra stress on the plants.
Fuchsias love water, but they suffer from root diseases if over-watered, especially when planted in the ground. A general guideline is to water plants thoroughly and permit them to dry out between waterings. During the hot summer months, container-grown fuchsias will probably need watering every day. At other times, two or three times a week will be enough.
“People cause more plant damage by overwatering than underwatering,” Meyers said. “A dry plant can often be saved, but a soggy plant will usually succumb to a root disease.”
When hot, dry Santa Ana winds are blowing, there’s the temptation to mist or water the drooping plants. Don’t, at least not during the heat of the day when the water droplets will only intensify the sun’s burning rays. Water early in the morning, and mist the wilting leaves in the evening.
About 500 of the more than 10,000 varieties are available in California.
Meyers recommends the following as among the most popular and easy to grow:
* For hot, inland areas: ‘Display,’ ‘Julia,’ ‘Marinka,’ ‘Nonpareil’ and ‘Red Spider.’
* For coastal areas: ‘Golden Anniversary’ (popular for its variegated foliage), ‘Lisa,’ ‘Pink Marshmallow.’
* For hot or coastal areas: ‘Swingtime,’ ‘Voodoo.’
Fuchsias can be pinched during the summer if they grow too leggy. Pinching out the growing tips forces growth into side branches, and two side branches will grow where each tip is removed. This makes the plant fuller and more attractive.
In November or December, more severe pruning is usually required. Prune at least half of all the growth formed during the current year. Container plants can be pruned even shorter, to the container’s bottom.
Pinching should begin when new growth starts in January or February. When three or four sets of leaves have emerged, pinch out the growing tip of each branch. This will result in double the amount of branches.
Pinch each branch again when another set of three or four leaves appears. Continue this method of pinching eight or 10 times to produce a full plant.
“Most people don’t pinch enough,” Meyers said. “You can’t pinch too much since this makes the plant produce more blooms.”
Flowers will appear six to eight weeks after the pinching.
The showy flowers have a wide variety of color combinations. The top parts that flare back are termed sepals, and are white, red or pink. The inside part of the flower is termed the corolla. These are available in shades of white, blue violet, purple, pink, red and tones of red-orange.
The color combinations are endless, and further variety comes from flower sizes and the number of petals in the corolla.
June is an active month for fuchsia fanciers, and there will be several shows and sales. This is an excellent opportunity to view the many different flowers and obtain practical advice from experts.
Members of the National Fuchsia Society will hold a show at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge June 7 and 8. Call Descanso Gardens, (818) 952-4400.
Another fuchsia show will be at the L.A. County Arboretum in Arcadia June 13 and 14. Call (818) 821-3222 for details.
The Orange County Fuchsia Society will hold a display and sale June 26-28 at the Huntington Mall in Huntington Beach.
“This is an excellent opportunity to buy fuchsia varieties which often are hard to find,” said Mary James, president of the club. “We’ll also have cultural information available.”
The Orange County Fuchsia Society holds monthly meetings, and visitors are welcome. The group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Women’s Civic Club, 9501 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove. For more information, call (714) 539-3727.
Some sources for fuchsias:
* Stubbs Nursery, 737 Orpheus Ave., Leucadia. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For information, call (619) 753-1069.
* Nurseryland stores in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Tustin and Yorba Linda.
