Monday, August 23, 2010

Fuchsia magellanica, West Cork's adopted alien.

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During the summertime it is particularly a pleasure to drive down to the homestead down in West Cork. After spending many hours in the car, travelling on the wide motorways from Dublin, the narrow winding, pothole infested roads of the countryside are a welcome sight. The roads are about half the width they normally are in the winter as all the plant life competes for space. Although the roads are narrower, they do look fantastic as the glow with colour. And none glows with as much dominance as the fantastic Fuchsia.


We have a lot of aliens down in West Cork, they all seem to love the mild moist climate that we have thanks to the North Atlantic drift. Now before you send Mulder and Scully down here, let me clarify, I am of course not talking about the bright green kind that fly around in space craft, I am talking about plants that are not native to this country.

Red Fuchsia hedges with the orange glow another much loved and plentefull alien to Ireland Montbretia 'Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora'

Fuchsia magellanica 'Riccartonii', or more commonly known as the Humming bird fuchsia or lady’s eardrops is an icon of West Cork. Anyone who has visited West Cork in the summer time will have seen this amazing deciduous shrub illuminate the hedge groves all over the countryside. It is so iconic of west cork it image is used by many local companies and organizations.



A native of Chilli, it was identified by Charles Plumier in the seventeenth century. Plumier named it after the German botanist, Leonhart Fuchs (1501-1566)



Fuchsia bark

This deciduous shrub will reach from about 1.5m to 2.5m high, and will favour coastal locations and rocky ground. Its flowers colour the hedgerows from July to October with their rich hues. The flowers (2cm long) are bell-shaped and have four violet petals which are surrounded by four large, pointed red sepals, rather like a ballerina with a crimson skirt, purple petticoat and long, slightly uneven, legs. The grey/green leaves are ovate and toothed and the fruits are black, fleshy berries in autumn. It should be noted that the black, fleshy berries of the Fuchsia are NOT edible. The branches of the fuchsia turn a pale, golden brown with age and its bark gets a lovely papery quality to it.


Fuchs ia magellanica 'Riccartonii'on frouunt of the White variaty, Fuchsia magellanica var. molinae (F. magellanica 'Alba')

If you would like to plant Fuchsia as an informal hedge, plant them 45cm (1.5 ft) apart in the spring. I mild areas like here in West Cork, Fuchsia magellanica can be grown quite easily through propagation, simply by taking cuttings from a mature plant in late autumn when the stalks are bare, and sticking them about 15cm into the ground.
Fuchsia flowers best on new wood so prune hard in spring, leaving just 15cm to 30cm (6in to 12in) of stem, from which new growth will shoot. Plants grown as hedges should be less severely pruned, although a portion of any old that may have been killed by frosted should always be removed.

The Drive up to Hagal Farm

Here in Ireland we all are accustomed to a few dreary summer days, and even though it was one of these kinds of days when I was out taking these photos, the vibrant colours of the Fuchsia still keep the place looking hot and summery.


Throughout the summer, the Fuchsia continues to make new flowers, while the older flowers fall to the ground leavening just the small berry behind. As a result of this, by this time of the year you begin to see these lovely red carpets at the base of the plants.



This Fuchsia is also popular with kids, as the flowers contain a pouch of sweet nectar. As kids we would often have purple and red lips as a result of drinking the nectar. The process you use to do this is, when you pick the flower, pull off the purple petals and stalks, hold the part where the petals were, up to your lips and squeeze the back of the flower to release the nectar.

Fuchsia high up in the hills, with the faint silhouette of O'Donovan castle in the distance.



18 comments:

  1. Growing up in hot California, I always thought of fuchsias as shade plants, but was pleased to learn that this fuchsia does just fine in full sun. I planted it near the hot tub and it's working. Full of blooms and attracting hummingbirds for up close appreciation.

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  2. Such a stunningly red hot colour these fuchsias esp when they frame your road to your farm! A good post, such detail info on these beauties too..esp for 'alien' like me :-)

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  3. How beautiful and I hadn't realized about fuchsias taking sun... I may have to try them as bedding plants next season! I appreciate the info presented by you as well as the comment regarding sun! L

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  4. Wow. What a beautiful sight. I never saw so many growing in rows along roads and fences.Thanks for the posting and information.

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  5. Gorgeous!! I always enjoy your phtoos..how I'd live to live where you do..lucky man! thanks for another beautiful post!

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  6. Great read! I did not know that kids ate the nectar!

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  7. I could not imagine a hedge row of fuschia. Not native but fabulous!

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  8. Wow. Ireland is beautiful. Many friends of mine have traveled there- I must make it a point to get there myself.

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  9. I wish that these were hardy here. The hedgerows are unbelievable!

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  10. Spectacular post! I cannot imagine the beauty of a hedgerow of this delicate flower... the hummingbirds must go crazy. Beautiful Beautiful landscapes and photos. Thank you!! I will look at my small potted fuchsia in a different way from now on.

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  11. Sunny - Fuchsia always struck me as 'exotic', which typically equals a tropical environment. Now while I consider Ireland exotic (and a visit to your Green Isle is on my 'Bucket List', for sure), seeing hedgerows of those amazing flowers just blows me away!

    BTW - I hope you don't mind, but I put a link to your blog on my latest post today. :D

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  12. Wow, I've never seen so many fushias! Great post & very informative - thanks! Great pics too....

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  13. Lovely post! Fuchias have always been a favourite of mine since I was a child and called them "dancing ladies" and played games with them- little knowing that you could DRINK them too! the wild ones look wonderful- especially all the flowers on the ground...

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  14. A beautiful post of a beautiful place. I'd love to go there someday. Dh has ancestors, so hope I can get him over!
    Kathy
    (in New Hampshire, USA)

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  15. Such an enjoyable post of stunning fuchsias.

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  16. Actually, the berries are perfectly edible.

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  17. Interesting how enormous these grow in your mild climate.

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