One of my favorite places is the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific. A gardener’s garden. I learn something each visit.
This time it’s putting a specific name to the hardy fuchsia growing in our own garden:
Fuchsia magellanica var. gracilis.
At least I’m pretty certain that’s what our hardy fuchsia is…
Walking through HCP’s Fuchsia garden boggles my mind. Apparently there are many more varieties of hardy fuchsia than I imagined.
There are tall hedging shrubs and shorter mid-border shrubs…
Others that are so small they’re classified as perennials instead of shrubs…
Most have flowers with red sepals and purple petals in the centers…
But others are pink… or white… or even orangey…
Most leaves are forest-green,
but others are lime-green,
or variegated-green. These really show up against a bit of shade.
There are so many species, sub species & hybrids!
Now that I look more closely, I’m thinking my garden’s hardy fuchsia might be a F. coccinea instead…
maybe?
Either way, I’m stoked to grow a plant that looks so exotic. Check out the variety of Fuchsia that are winter hardy for gardens in the Pacific Northwest (Canada & USA) :
The North West Fuchsia Society
Perhaps there’ll be a few varieties at HCP’s annual Fall Sale coming up on October 1.
FYI – these photos show only some of the hardy fuchsia varieties growing in the gardens at HCP
-30-
Garden Variety Life 
Did you know it’s berries and flowers are edible? The berries are even very tasty. Just watch out for the ones who have been sprayed with chemicals…
Thanks, Jesse – – I just found out about the berries being edible a couple months ago 🙂 I tried a few from our garden & they’re even tasty!! Have you ever cooked with them??