Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Fuchsia magellanica Arauco



Fuchsia magellanica arauco
An absolutely exquisite, possibly naturally occurring, form of this popular shrub - always attracts attention with it's finely crafted purple white and pink flowers and neat dark green foliage. It can make a large shrub in time but, like most Fuchsias, responds well to pruning.
Fuchsia magellanica arauco
This is less drought tolerant than other Fuchsia - not good in small containers and definitely most at home in cool moist conditions.
Fuchsia magellanica Lady Bacon, left, and arauco
nb. the variety Lady Bacon (left) is very similar and they can be hard to tell apart, but seen together, Arauco is definitely the more refined plant with better colours, and smaller leaves and flowers. I grow both but I would always recommend Arauco. It just has that certain something that even people who don't generally go for Fuchsias can appreciate.
£10


Tuesday, 26 May 2020

Akebia longeracemosa

Akebia longeracemosa
An excellent smaller species - vigorous but not overwhelming - almost evergreen and with remarkable flowers. These, as is usual for the family, consist of smaller male flowers below and larger female flowers above, but in this case the male flowers are in  a long dangling raceme (hence the name) and the whole inflorescence is a dusky maroon.
Akebia longeracemosa
Very hardy and easy in a wide variety of situations
£16