Fuchsia Winston Churchill

Fuchsia 'Winston Churchill' is an excellent variety that is vigorous and floriferous. Its habit is both flexible and upright, making it suitable for pots, hanging baskets, and borders. From summer to autumn, it produces an abundance of large, double flowers that are predominantly bicoloured, combining shades of pink with nuances of lavender-blue and magenta-pink. Countless in number and varied in colour, they create a beautiful tapestry. It is not hardy, but is reliable and robust. This variety 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 'Winston Churchill' is an American hybrid (Garson Gordon) dating back to 1942. The plant quickly forms a compact, branching bush with a flexible upright habit, reaching a height of 45 to 50cm (18 to 20in) and a width of 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in). It flowers from May-June to September-October. The flowers are about 4 to 5cm (2in) wide, and bloom at the tips of reddish-pink stems. They consist of a tube extended by four long, reflexed sepals in a fairly deep pink, and a corolla of broader, shorter petals that range from violet to mauve, with hints of magenta and blue. Long, bright pink stamens complete this harmonious colour combination. The initially herbaceous stems become somewhat woody as the season progresses. They bear an abundance of 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 green. Its hardiness is limited, not exceeding -3°C (26.6°F) in open ground.

Usually grown as an annual, Fuchsia 'Winston Churchill' 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 be grown outdoors for a single season. Fuchsias are shade-loving plants that pair well with ferns, astilbes, orange or pink heucheras, and blue or light green hostas. In a mixed container, they can be planted with dwarf ivies, lobelias, or Madagascar periwinkles. Fuchsia 'Winston Churchill' will also create a beautiful combination with dark-coloured coleus such as 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!