Unusual fuchsias to try
Looking for something a li le different? Then look no further than some of these quirky varieties
Throughout the history of fuchsia hybridisation, there have been several times where new fuchsia varieties are produced from a crossing between two species fuchsias. These are known as interspecific hybrids. In more recent years some hybridisers have re-explored hybridisation between species to introduce different characteristics and colours into the range of fuchsias that are available for enthusiasts to grow. Two who have produced quite a few new interspecific fuchsias are Herman de Graaff from the Netherlands and John Wright from the UK.
If you're looking for something a bit different, here are some you can try:
‘Mary': A lovely red-flowered triphylla type hybridised by Carl Bonstedt in 1897. Resulted from a cross between F. triphylla and F. corymbiflora.
‘Tarra Valley’: An upright fuchsia with single flowers with a pale green tube and sepals and a purple corolla. Produced by Felix/van't Westeinde and resulted from a cross between F. colensoi and F. splendens.
‘Small Pipes’: An unusual variety with paniculate, magenta flower clusters, hybridised by Herman de Graaff in 1987 and resulted from a cross between
F. paniculata and F. triphylla.
‘Dark Venus’: A long-tubed variety with unusual colours and gloss leaves hybridised by Herman de Graaff in 1988, resulting from a cross between
F. excorticata and F. venusta.
‘Purcellian Elegancy’: A new pink-flowered triphylla hybridised by Mario de Cooker from a cross between F. triphylla ‘HvdP’ x F. triphylla.
Others by Herman de Graaff
‘Highland Pipes’: F. magdalenae x F. excorticata. ‘Maori Pipes’: F. excorticata x F. triphylla. ‘Northumbrian Pipes’: F. magdalenae x F. paniculata. ‘Uilleann Pipes’: F. paniculata x F. sanctae-rosae. ‘War Pipes’: F. perscandens x F. magdalenae.
Others by John Wright
‘Lechlade Apache’: F. simplicicaulis x F. boliviana. ‘Lechlade Fire-eater’: F. triphylla x F. denticulata. ‘Whiteknights Ruby’: F. triphylla x F. procumbens.