FUCHSIAS

Join "The In Ground Fuchsia Group" a new online and meeting-based group
started in the Blue Mountains area of NSW.

My Garden is mostly fuchsias - all grown in the ground where they are much easier to maintain than in if they were in pots. They grow more quickly, never need re-potting and need less watering (twice a week or less for most of the year) than their potted or basket grown compatriots. Some varieties are grown in the full sun and most established plants need little attention except for a very heavy prune once a year. Others have shade for part of the day from trees, buildings or fences. Another group have a 50% shade cloth thanks to 2 shade sails and so far they they have survived though the extreme heat of Christmas and New Year 2005/6 and 2006/7 and the extreme frosts in 2007.

I live in the central Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, NSW, Australia so bear this in mind when I comment on growing conditions. We only have a few days of overnight frost in Winter. The lowest temperature rarely dropped below 5 degrees C last year. Until recently, I would have said the maximum exceeded 30-35 degrees for only a few days each Summer. The last 2 Summers, however, we have already experienced several days around 40C.

When the family home was sold in late 2004 I moved, and only brought about 8 established fuchsias and a lot of cuttings to my new garden. None of the plants in these pictures have been in for longer than 18 months and most have been planted in the last 8 months. I now have over 400 fuchsias; at least 200 different cultivars. Some plants have only been planted in the last few months. You will see that many plants need more training. Hopefully as plants mature the display will improve.

One of the 8 pots I own (apart from the propagating ones)
in the middle of the garden hooked up to the watering system.

Sun tolerant fuchsias Mitzie and Marinka in centre
growing in full sun.

?? , Canary Bird and Annabel that get some protection from trees,

Voodoo in front with the shade sails.

A group of fuchsias and in the background the beginnings of a fuchsia hedge along both fences. I have planted Brutus, F. Magellanica and then a different cultivar all along both fences.

Upward facing blooms of Walz Jubelteen

The herbaceous border effect almost realised but HOW do you get in to attend to the plants

The herbaceous effect with various sized fuchsias

???

Summer propagating area in cool side passage on western side of house protected by the house and neighbours' trees. In winter it is to cool and dark due to big pine tree in neighbour's garden that creates 100% shade. The green houses have to be moved to the northern side.

I enjoy propagating fuchsias especially the easy to grow ones, and have been giving them away to everyone who says they can't grow fuchsias or they are hard to grow. Nurseries around here only seem to stock spectacular large double varieties of light colours in baskets that are hard to maintain especially in hot weather. On the other hand there are hundreds of easier to grow varieties; many of these are smaller single blooms but they flower much more profusely and I think are just as spectacular.

I now have many large double flowering fuchsias as well as my favourite singles. They do look lovely and now they are growing it the ground instead of baskets they don't need as much attention.

Email groups for fuchsia lovers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fuchsialoversaroundtheworld/
Welcome Fuchsia Lovers, wherever you are, from down under to John o'Groats, and all points in between. We invite to share with us your helpful hints, your favourites, what works for you, in growing Fuchsias.

For those people who, in addition to growing and enjoying fuchsia flowers, have an interest in collecting anything (whether antique or modern) with fuchsias on, including pottery, ceramics, glassware, paintings, drawings, jewellery, stamps, embroidery etc (fuchsia lore). http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Fuchsia-Lore/