Fuchsia magellanica var. gracilis

Fuchsia magellanica var. gracilis or Magellan Fuchsia is a shrub that is covered with charming little bicolour bells from July to October. Preferring a rather shady exposure or filtered light, it can tolerate (non-burning) sun in a cool soil. Its red and purple-violet flowers stand out from its shiny light green foliage, providing a lot of contrast and brightness.

Fuchsia magellanica, named after the Strait of Magellan, its region of origin, is a small-sized shrub that only likes to grow in its preferred climates. It can reach a height of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) or more if the atmosphere remains humid and temperate and the soil fertile, but well drained. In mild climates, the stems should be pruned by half to maintain a less bare silhouette. On the other hand, if your climate is harsher and there are intense frosts (-15 °C (5 °F)), the stems will not survive, which will, however, not endanger your Fuchsia. You should cut them back and protect the stump by mulching or mounding soil around it. The stems will sprout again in the spring, but your shrub will not reach more than one metre (3 ft 3 in) in height by the end of summer.

It is an upright, bushy, and slightly trailing shrub. Its oval and elliptical leaves are shiny and light green. They provide a beautiful background for the flowers. The flowers are numerous and very light, and generously bloom throughout the summer. Shaped like 4 cm (1.6 in) long bells, they hang at the end of the stems, swaying in the wind. They are composed of a long fleshy calyx with four pointed sepals of a very bright red, in which a violet corolla is embedded. Long red stamens emerge from it. The overall effect is very vibrant and animated.

The Fuchsia is a somewhat forgotten shrub that is just waiting to be rediscovered. Its colours are intense, yet subtle and refined. It finds its place as a background or in the middle of a flower bed, depending on the size of your garden, providing a colourful and dense backdrop. It is suitable for multicoloured ensembles and easily pairs with Dahlias. It also serves as a base for shade or semi-shade compositions, to which it adds its luminous tones.