Fuchsia Constance

The Fuchsia 'Constance' is an established variety of fuchsia known for its vigor and cold resistance. The plant forms a true little bush with a round habit, dressed in dark green leaves, which is adorned with numerous bicolored double flowers late in the season. It goes dormant in winter, under a thick layer of straw mulch, to come back even stronger in spring. A powerful and very reliable fuchsia, ideal for adding a touch of color in the slightly shaded areas of the garden. In a pot, it will be just as spectacular, but slightly less hardy! 

Hybrid fuchsias are countless, and most of them are derived from Fuchsia magellanica and Fuchsia fulgens, sometimes with the contribution of Fuchsia triphylla, which brings length to the flowers. All these herbaceous to woody plants, more or less hardy and more or less upright or trailing, belong to the Onagraceae family. They originate from South America, the Carribean, and Australia.

The Fuchsia 'Constance' was registered in 1939 in the USA. This variety quickly forms a bushy shrub with slightly trailing branches, reaching a height and width of about 70 cm. In favorable climates, if its branches are not damaged by winter frost, it can become even bigger. The stems, initially herbaceous, become woody as the season progresses. They bear abundant foliage, a beautiful deep green, composed of leaves arranged in groups of 3 or 5, entire, measuring 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3.1 in) in length, lanceolate. The leaves, deciduous, fall off in autumn and reappear in spring. The flowering period extends from June to September-October, sometimes until November if the weather remains mild. Its flowers are of medium size. Each one has a calyx, a sort of long tube extended by 4 long and turned-back sepals, surrounding a double corolla of wider and shorter petals. The calyx changes from pink to pale pink, while the corolla changes from deep pink to purplish pink. Long pink stamens complete the harmony of colors. 

This Fuchsia 'Constance' is a perennial shrub that can be grown in the ground in many regions. Its hardiness ranges from -10 °C (without protection), to -15°C when care is taken to protect the stump in winter. Fuchsias pair well with hydrangeas and the foliage of ferns, rodgersias, orange heucheras or hostas. In a flowerpot, they can be accompanied, for example, by ivy, lobelias, or begonias. 

Discovered in Santo Domingo in the 17th century and acclimatized in Europe, it was named Fuchsia (not Fuschia) in honor of a German botanist named Fuchs. Native to South America, botanical Fuchsias have gradually been multiplied. There are now believed to be tens of thousands of hybrids!