Fuchsia Ting-a-Ling

Fuchsia 'Ting-a-Ling' is a vigorous and floriferous variety characterised by upright growth, and medium-sized, single white flowers. The plant blooms continuously from early summer to early autumn. It is a semi-hardy plant that is easy to grow in partial shade. It can be grown in a large pot, or in fertile, moist, and light soil.

There are thousands of hybrid fuchsias. For the most part, they are derived from Fuchsia magellanica and F. fulgens, with occasional contributions from F. triphylla, which adds length to the flowers, characterised by thin tubes and violet-hued undersides of the leaves. All these herbaceous to woody plants, varying in hardiness and growth habit, belong to the Onagraceae family.

Fuchsia 'Ting-a-Ling' is an excellent American cultivar dating back to 1959. The plant quickly forms a well-branched, upright bush, whose height varies depending on growing conditions. In favourable climates, it can reach up to 1.5m (5ft) in the ground, and around 70 to 80cm (28 to 32in) in a pot. Its flowering period extends from May-June to September-October. Its single flowers, hanging from a peduncle, consist of a white tube extended by 4 long, reflexed sepals that are white with green tips, and a corolla of wider, shorter petals that are also white. It bears long stamens with pink anthers. The stems are initially herbaceous, becoming somewhat woody over the season. They bear an abundance of foliage composed of slender deciduous leaves. They are opposite, whorled in groups of 3 or 5, with entire, dentate margins, measuring 3cm (1in) in length. The lanceolate leaves are a glossy green. The hardiness of the stump does not exceed -6 to -7°C (21.2 to 19.4°F) in the ground.

This superb Fuchsia 'Ting-a-Ling' performs wonders in mild, humid Atlantic coastal gardens. It can be planted in a small hedge or a large flower bed, alongside hydrangeas or lilies, for example. In regions with colder winters, it can be grown in a large pot and brought indoors for protection from frost. Fuchsias are partial shade plants that pair well with ferns, bugbanes with orange or pink foliage, and blue or light green hostas. In a mixed container, they can be planted with dwarf ivies, lobelias, or Madagascar periwinkles. Fuchsia 'Ting-a-Ling' also creates a striking effect when combined with dark-coloured coleus varieties such as 'Black Prince' or FlameThrower Salsa Roja.

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