Fuchsia
boliviana
A largish evergreen
shrub, with large hairy green leaves (leaf stalks and ribs red)
has large drooping bunches of sealing wax red flowers (up to 20cm
long) in late summer and autumn. A touch tender and best if
protected in winter, I find it performs best if cut hard back in
spring and re potted. Needs to be kept frost free to retain leaves but in the
ground it will reappear from the roots much like any other Fuchsia and has
survived here winter lows of -9c deep planting and good drainage being the key .
Remarkably wind tolerant it forms
large leafy shrubs which come into flower in late summer, it is
however worth growing just for the leaves which look superb all
season. It also makes a fine conservatory shrub when it will
remain evergreen.
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