Fuchsia Species

Section SKINNERA- New Zealand (1) F. excorticata- a 40' tree in New Zealand and the source of our "aubergine" hybrids. At maturity it is very dark in the tube and sepals.	This tree of F. excorticata grows in Yachats, Oregon, (Gerdemann Garden) out by the Pacific Ocean. It is winter hardy but likes to bloom in spring when it is too cold in most inland areas.
Section SCHUFIA- Mexico to Central America. (3 taxa F. paniculata subsp. paniculata- looks like a lilac, likes warmth and has serrated leaves. (Section Schufia has two other species that looks alot like this one: F. arborescens, only in Mexico with entire leaves and *F. paniculata subsp. mixensis* also growing in Mexico.)	Section HEMSLEYELLA- has no petals, has tuberous roots, and likes warmth. Central America to northern South America. (15 species) F. tillettiana is native to Venezuela.
F. pilaloensis is from Ecuador.	*F. juntasensis*- often likes to bloom after the leaves drop, needs warmth. Bolivia
F.U.S.C.A. *F. inflata* would not even be recognized as a fuchsia by most, except in Peru.	Section PROCUMBENTES- from New Zealand. (1) *F. procumbens* is a common ground cover in the PNW. It is hardy and perky and easy to grow. It also has the only yellow in the genus, and that's only in the tube. The variegated form is less vigorous but very attractive.
Section ENCLIANDRA- Mexico & Central America. (6 species; 14 taxa) (FUSCA) *F. cylindracea* has wee, cylindrical blossoms.	*F. ravenii* Fuchsias from this section cross so easily that it is very difficult to find true species today.
Section ELLOBIUM- Mexico to Central America. (4 taxa) While F. splendens is fairly winter hardy, it likes to bloom in early spring in the PNW when it's too cold. Note the pinch in the tube. Heart-shaped leaves stand out. Also, there is a longer-tubed version with that obvious pinch. F. splendens var. cordifolia has lighter, larger leaves and orangish blossoms with a less obvious pinch.	(FUSCA) Finding a true F. fulgens is very difficult, but there are a lot of hybrids with it in their backgrounds.
Section KIERSCHLEGERIA- Chile (1 species) *F. lycioides- Chile. (Roberto Andres Valenzuela Castillo) F lycioides* intersects with magellanica at its northern most latitude.	*F. lycioides* has a root system that 'weathers over' a drought.
Section QUELUSIA- Brazil & Chile/western Argentina This section is the best-known section in the PNW because the species are winter hardy to varying degrees and some of the plants have historical significance. (9 species; 11 taxa) All are shades of red in the tube and sepals with shades of purple in the petals. The sepals are longer than the tube. F. magellanica is believed to be one of most significant species found in many winter hardy hybrids. It came into cultivation around 1733 along with F. coccinea. (See below)	F. coccinea and *F. magellanica* are believed to be the first fuchsias in cultivation in Europe, around 1733! Their similarities led to much confusion. One way to tell them apart is the leaves on coccinea line up, 2 by 2, directly across from each other.
Many gardeners think that they have the species F. magellanica, but they probably have a hybrid of it. The species is very hardy, floriferous and a sturdy plant. Firewood? Fence posts? Sure. F. magellanica grows in Chile (29°S- 71°S) and western Argentina. *F. magellanica* mutates/sports easily so that one can find all shades of red & pink over all shades of purple to pink as well as different leaf sizes and shapes. On the right, F.magellanica. "Eburnea" seems to not be sure of what color it wants to be. *F. magellanica* "Alba" or "Molinae" is a light pink mutation of the otherwise red over purple species. It is also very hardy and grows to about 6' in the PNW where it freezes and up to the roof top where it doesn't.	F.m "Alba" on the left. The leaves mutated too- F.m. "Alba Sharpitor", aka 'Alba Variegata', on the right.
F. alpestris and all of this section are in cultivation in the PNW. Other than F. magellanica, they all grow in Brazil.	Another very hardy species, F. bracelinea, is in bloom in June, and it is somewhat lax and good in a rockery. It will have from 3 to 5 lush leaves per node with short internodes and clusters of blossoms. The photo on the right was in May with few blossoms, but the growth pattern is clear.
*F. brevilobis* has a very attractive blossom and soft leaves.	*F. campos-portoi* has small blossoms, leaves and plant growth. Its short little tube looks like it swallowed a B-B. It seems to love cool conditions.
F. glazioviana has shiny, glazed leaves although that is not how it got its name. Notice the thin, sharp sepals.	F. hatschbachii is very hardy and has long, thin leaves.
The lax stems with large, shiny leaves are attractive. Newer leaves can be yellow-green. F. regia subsp. serrae is a large, lax plant.	There are four regias. F. regia subsp. regia grows very fast and can be used to climb. It has the largest blossoms in this section.
In the taxonomy, we don't yet know where F. regia "radicans" will go. Dr. Berry writes that he will either recognize it as a subspecies or a variety.	The hardiest regia is F. regia subsp. reitzii. It will layer and go where it wants.
Section FUCHSIA- The largest section has 65 species, 67 taxa and shares the same name as the genus! These species grow in the warmer areas- Central and northern South America. They have long tubes and shorter sepals. Oranges are common.
F. andrei grows in Ecuador and Peru.	F. hartwegii- from Colombia
(FUSCA) Colombia is also home to F. venusta.	F. cinerea- Colombia & Ecuador (FUSCA)
(Ann Tanner & Patty Finigan) One of the best known species in this section in the Pacific Northwest is F. boliviana var. luxurians. It has a 4" tube, large leaves and tall growth. There is a shorter tubed version: F. boliviana var. boliviana. It grows from Mexico through northern South America. *F. boliviana* mutated to the white tube while in cultivation, not in the wild. Putting its whole name here takes some space: F. boliviana var. luxurians "Alba".	(WFSS) *F. mathewsii* (FUSCA) In Peru, one can find F. mathewsii and/or F. denticulata which was popular in the 1800;s as a winter bloomer. F. denticulata can be found in nurseries under some unusual names, but they are not the correct name.
F. ayavacensis grows in Peru and Ecuador.	(FRI) F. campii is Ecuadorian also.
(LAMB) F. crassistipula is Colombian.	Bolivia is F. furfuraceas's home.
F. dependens- Ecuador (FUSCA)	(FUSCA) Ecuador again for F. lehmannii.
F. orientalis- Ecuador	*F. scherffiana-* Ecuador
F.U.S.C.A. F. scabriuscula- Ecuador	F. steyermarkii- Ecuador
F. summa- Ecuador	*F. vulcanica-* Colombia & Ecuador Any question why Dr. Paul Berry refers to Ecuador as "a hotbed for species" ?
F. pringsheimii lives in the Dominican Republic.	(FUSCA) F. santae-rosae is from Bolivia.
Ecuador, where else? F. loxensis	Colombia's F. magdalenae
To pronounce Peru's F. simplicicaulis correctly, a hiccup is required.	*F. pringsheimii* Dominican Republic (FUSCA)
F. macrophylla from Peru.	Many wonderful hybrids have come from F. triphylla. So few of us have the true species however! Dominican Republic.