Fuchsia Bella Sacha

Fuchsia Sacha, like all the varieties in the Bella series, has a compact habit and flowers that are fully separated from the foliage. This particular variety is exceptionally floriferous, forming a ball of flowers from spring until the first frosts. The plant forms an upright clump. Its single flowers are bicoloured, in fuchsia-pink and dark violet. Ideal for mixed containers, this fuchsia looks stunning when trailing or in a hanging basket. It is easy to grow in partial shade, in fertile, moist, and well-drained 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 Sacha quickly forms a compact bush with a semi-upright habit, reaching a height and width of 30 to 35cm (12 to 14in), or even more. Its flowering period extends from May-June to October, lasting until the first frost. Its single flowers consist of a tube followed by 4 long and slightly recurved sepals in fuchsia-pink, and a corolla of wider and shorter petals in dark violet, nestled within the outer corolla of sepals. Long fuchsia stamens complete the colour harmony. The stems are initially herbaceous, becoming somewhat woody as the season progresses. 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 is low, not exceeding -3°C (26.6°F) in the ground.

Usually grown as an annual, Fuchsia Sacha is a perennial that can be cultivated indoors. It can be grown in a large pot that can be brought indoors during winter to protect it from frost. It can also be grown in the ground for a 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!