Fuchsia First Success

Fuchsia 'First Success' is a superb hybrid of F. paniculata and F. splendens. This shrub fuchsia boasts an incredibly graceful pink flowering that somewhat resembles that of a Chinese lilac. Throughout summer, its small flowers appear in terminal clusters, carried by flexible and reddish stems, displayed against beautiful glossy green leaves with purple veins. Plant this semi-hardy variety in a large pot on a patio, where it will bloom all summer long.

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 'First Success' is a beautiful horticultural achievement, obtained in 1982 by Weeda. It forms an erect bush, supported by flexible reddish stems, at least 80cm (32in) high and wide. In the ground, it can exceed 2m (7ft) in height when grown in favourable conditions. Its flowering extends from June-July to September. Its single flowers do not exceed 4cm (2in) in length. They consist of a long, medium pink tube, extended by 4 pointed and slightly curled sepals in a lighter pink, surrounding a corolla of smaller petals that are also light pink. White stamens with barely protruding anthers complete the harmony of colours. The stems of this fuchsia become woody over the season. They bear deciduous, elegant, entire, and light leaves, whorled in 3 or 5, measuring 3 to 5cm (1 to 2in) long. The lanceolate leaves are a fairly dark green, veined with purple. The stump of a mature plant can survive a brief frost of around -6°C (21.2°F).

Usually grown as an annual, Fuchsia 'First Success' is a perennial shrub that can be grown in a large pot that should be brought indoors for winter protection from frost. It can also grow in the ground for one season, or longer in milder climates. Fuchsias thrive in partial shade and moist soil, and they pair well with the foliage of ferns, rodgersias, or hostas. They also look stunning with hydrangeas. In a container garden, they can be planted with dwarf ivies, lobelias, or bacopas with very delicate flowers.

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!