Fuchsia Rosalien

Fuchsia 'Rosalien' is a charming variety with a compact and semi-trailing habit that is suitable for use in pots, hanging baskets, or borders. The plant produces an abundance of modest-sized single flowers in a range of colours, combining white, pink, purple, and magenta. The beautiful blooms transform the plant into a dazzling bouquet. Non-hardy fuchsias are easily cultivated 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 'Rosalien' quickly forms a small bush with a semi-upright and trailing habit, reaching a height of 25 to 30cm (10 to 12in) when in flower and a width of 40 to 45cm (16 to 18in). Its flowering period extends from May-June to September-October. Its single flowers, 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) wide, appear in large numbers for a very long period. They consist of a tube extended by 4 long and recurved sepals, changing from white to pale-pink and then to bright pink, and a corolla of wider and shorter petals that change from violet to deep magenta. Long pink stamens complete this beautifully contrasting colour combination. 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 open ground.

Usually grown as an annual, Fuchsia 'Rosalien' is a perennial that can be grown in a large pot that can be brought indoors during winter to protect from frost. It can also 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!