Fuchsia Whiteknights Pearl

The Fuchsia 'Whiteknights Pearl' is a particularly hardy variety of fuchsia that can be grown outdoors without protection in all regions. Its pale pink flowering is as delicate as its constitution is solid. The plant forms a beautiful upright bush that is covered in small flowers for months. An easy and faithful fuchsia, ideal for bringing a touch of light to shaded areas of the garden. In a pot, it will be just as charming, but slightly less hardy! This excellent variety has been awarded the Mérite de Courson and the Award of Garden Merit from the R.H.S, the Golden Palm of the plant world.

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

The Fuchsia 'Whiteknights Pearl' quickly forms a dense bush with upright branches, reaching a height of about 60-70 cm (23.6-27.6 in). In favorable climates, if its branches are not damaged by winter frost, it can even reach a height of 1.30 m (4 ft 4 in). The initially herbaceous stems become woody as the season progresses. They bear abundant foliage, a beautiful dark green color, composed of leaves grouped in 3 or 5, which are entire, 5 cm (2 in) long and lanceolate. The deciduous leaves fall in autumn and reappear in spring. The flowering period extends from June to September-October, sometimes until November if the weather remains mild. The flowers are simple and small. Each one has a calyx, a long tube extended by 4 slightly recurved sepals, surrounding a corolla of wider and shorter petals. The calyx is barely pinkish white, while the corolla is a slightly clearer pink. Long pale stamens complete the harmony of colors.

This Fuchsia 'Whiteknights Pearl' is a perennial shrub that can be grown in the ground in many regions. Its hardiness is not compromised unless the soil it is planted in is too wet in winter. Fuchsias go well with hydrangeas and fern foliage, rodgersias, orange heucheras, or hostas. In a flower pot, they can be accompanied, for example, by ivy, lobelias, or begonias.

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