Fuchsia procumbens
Trailing Fuchsia
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Fuchsia genus in the family Onagraceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Onagraceae
- Genus
- Fuchsia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 0.15 m
- Spread
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Bees
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw. It might be edible, but it is not very nice[K]. The fruit is about 18mm in diameter[5].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant makes a carpet of growth and can be used for ground cover when spaced about 60cm apart each way[6].
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- New Zealand.
- Habitat
- Sandy, gravelly or rocky places above the high tide mark, but occasionally covered by extra high tides, North Island[9].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- 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[5] 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[5]. 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[5]. Succeeds in a good loam if sand and leafmold are added[1]. Plants flower better when grown in a poor sandy soil[4]. This species is only hardy in the mildest parts of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c[8], It grows and fruits well in Cornwall[3]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. The plant produces long trailing stems and grows well in hanging baskets[8]. The wild plant can be dioecoius or monoecious, but the form cultivated in Britain is self-fertile[3]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[7]. A good bee plant[2].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00