Fuchsia Bella Laura

Fuchsia Bella Laura is a very pretty variety from the Bella series. It has a compact and trailing habit, and blooms abundantly throughout the summer season. Its red double flowers display a white corolla. They are semi-erect, standing out beautifully against the dark green foliage. This delightful variety is easy to grow in partial shade, in fertile, moist and light soil. It is also perfect for hanging baskets.

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 Bella Laura quickly forms a well-branched small bush with a trailing habit, 25 to 30cm (10 to 12in) tall when flowering and 50cm (20in) wide. Its flowering period extends from June to September-October. Its flowers consist of a tube extended by 4 short sepals that are shell-shaped and coral-red, with a double corolla of wider, white petals veined with red, embedded in the corolla of outer sepals. Long red stamens complete the harmony of colours. 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 dark green. Its hardiness does not exceed -3°C (26.6°F) in open ground.

Usually grown as an annual, Fuchsia Bella Laura is a perennial that can be grown in a large pot that can be brought indoors during winter to protect it from frost. It can grow in open ground for one season. Fuchsias pair well with the foliage of ferns, silver candles, orange or pink heucheras, and blue or light green hostas. In a mixed container, they can be planted with ivy, Dichondra 'Silver Falls', lobelias, or Madagascar periwinkles. This fuchsia 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!