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Plants

Fuchsia microphylla

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Fuchsia genus in the family Onagraceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Fuchsia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
1.8 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw. A juicy berry with a nice flavour, but it is usually rather small[K]. The fruit can be up to 1.5cm in diameter according to one report[4], but this is much larger than we have ever seen it[K].

Plant part
Fruit

Environment

Range
Southern N. America - Mexico.
Habitat
Open places in oak and pine woods in Hidalgo. Mexico, Michoacan and Jalisco Counties[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[4] though it can also be sown in the spring[1]. Surface sow the seed in pots in a warm greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out[4]. Germination should take place in less than 6 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Inter-nodal cuttings of greenwood, 5 - 8cm long, May/June in a frame. Quick and easy, a high percentage take[78, K]. Overwinter in the greenhouse for the first year and plant out after the last expected frosts. Inter-nodal cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very quick and easy, treat as greenwood cuttings above[K]. Cuttings usually succeed at any time during the growing season[K].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any fertile well-drained circum-neutral soil[4]. Succeeds in a good loam if sand and leafmold are added[1]. Plants grow best in cool summer conditions with good light[6]. A plant at Heligan gardens in Cornwall is thriving and fruiting well in the fairly deep shade of a woodland garden[K]. This species is hardy in many parts of Britain according to some reports[3][7], though others say that it is best grown in a greenhouse[1]. A plant growing in a sheltered position outside a greenhouse at Oxford Botanical Gardens seems to be hardy there[K]. Since Oxford experiences lots of frosts and usually some snow in the winter, this suggests that it is possible to grow this species in many parts of Britain, especially if grown against a wall[K]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[5]. A good bee plant[2]. A polymorphic species, a number of sub-species are recognised[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Boullemier. L. The Checklist of Species, Hybrids and Cultivars of the Genus Fuschia. Blandford Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-7137-1781-5

    ↩

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