Fuchsia Angela

Fuchsia ‘Angela’ is a very ornamental, medium-sized variety that blooms profusely from summer to autumn. Its rather dark green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for the bicoloured flowers, combining bright red and a striking purplish violet. The single, trailing, medium-sized flowers have a very architectural look. This small shrub only tolerates brief, low-intensity frosts (-2°C), so it can only be planted in the garden in climates with little frost exposure. Elsewhere, it should be grown as an annual or planted in a pot to overwinter indoors.

Fuchsia belongs to the Onagraceae family, which includes about twenty other genera, among which are Evening Primroses (or Onagres, which gave the family its name) and Willowherb, both highly prized for their long, beautiful summer blooms. There are about a hundred species of Fuchsias, named in honour of Reverend Fuchs, a German botanist, the vast majority of which are frost-tender. However, Fuchsia magellanica stands out for its good frost hardiness (down to -15°C) and has served as a base for many commercially available hybrids that can tolerate light frosts. This is the case with Fuchsia 'Angela', a hybrid of unknown parentage (probably involving F. magellanica and another species such as F. fulgens, or F. corymbiflora?). It therefore tolerates occasional frosts around -2°C, which allows it to be placed outdoors from the start of the season despite a possible cold snap, or to be grown in the ground in the mildest regions. Its growth is fairly fast, forming a compact clump 40 to 60cm in all directions. Its stems, whose herbaceous tips take on a purplish brown colour, bear opposite or whorled leaves, 3 to 7cm long and about 1.5 to 3cm wide. The oval to slightly lanceolate leaf is pointed at the tip and slightly toothed on its margin. Carried by a short purplish petiole, it is a deeper green than that of many garden varieties, with a midrib the same colour as the petiole. From June onwards, the red flower buds begin to open. The single flowers have a calyx consisting of four recurved, pointed sepals of bright red. In the centre, the corolla formed of four petals offers a marked contrast with its subtly purplish violet, veined with red. The stamens are also red, along with the long pistil, protruding from the corolla, reinforcing the sculptural look of the flower. Flowering continues until October, especially if you take care to deadhead spent flowers and water regularly, occasionally adding a liquid fertiliser rich in potassium.

This pretty variety 'Angela' is best placed in a large pot, in partial shade, on the terrace, balcony or near the house. In very mild climates where frost is rare, it can also be planted in the ground, in a sheltered spot, in rich, well-drained soil that retains some moisture in summer. Elsewhere, treat it as an annual, growing it in borders with other plants sharing the same requirements. The White Begonia semperflorens 'Super Olympia' with small white flowers and a golden centre will temper the brightness of your Fuchsia's warm colours. Impatiens and Sunpatiens will also be good companions, as will Annual Lobelia, which will add blueish tones. Also consider foliage plants that will complete your display beautifully, such as Variegated Plectranthus in green and white, or the incredible Coleus 'Copinto Manhattan' with almost black foliage!