| Diva
Fuchsia
-
Grows
well in Shade or Morning Sun
-
Beautiful
in mixed containers, like with
Impatiens and Lobelia
-
Doesn't
require pinching or trimming
-
Strong,
upright and self-supporting
-
Continues
to bloom in hot weather and until
frost
-
Freeze
tolerant to the low 20s
-
Perennial - offering beauty year
after year
We're really excited
to tell you about Diva Fuchsias...
With minimal effort, you're going
to enjoy some spectacular results!
You'll
want several for your hanging baskets
and planters - Divas put on
a spectacular show in containers,
whether in shady locations or sunny
(though not in afternoon sun in the
hotter climates). And they'll
also do well in garden beds,
where they winter over well - in  protected
areas, Divas will winter over down
to the low 20s.
And we haven't even
talked about their prodigious
blooming ability! Plant now,
and you'll enjoy fast overall plant
growth the first few weeks. Then as
the days get longer, your Divas will
start to flower - and the blooming
will remain nearly constant well into
fall. (That's because fuchsia are
"facultative" bloomers - which means
once they've initiated blooms, they
will continue to bloom until outdoor
temperatures get cold enough to kill
soft growth.) Another reason you'll
like Divas is they offer very limited
fruiting - and the less fruiting,
the more energy the plant has for
making flowers.
Like all fuchsias,
Divas like a consistently
moist soil (though not soaked),
so you'll want to pay attention to
watering needs particularly in your
containers and during hotter weather
stretches. You will notice Divas
take dry weather well, faring
much better in higher temperatures
than their Northern European bred
cousins. You'll also want to apply
a slow release fertilizer or liquid
feed every 6 weeks.
As
for size, you can expect a strong
18-24" tall fountain-form shrub the
first year here in the cooler
Northwest climates. Divas will then
reach 24-30" over the next few years,
without any need for staking. Some
5-year-old Divas in warmer climates
have reached 36" wide by 48" tall
without need for any type of support.
And talk about low maintenance
- this attractive plant
form is attained without pinching
or trimming.
Divas are great
for creating versatile mixed containers.
In England, gardeners love to mix
Fuchsia with Impatiens in matching
or contrasting colors. Lobelia is
a great filler around both plants.
Or trust your own instincts and try
them with some of your other favorite
container plants.
Be
sure to come by your Fred Meyer Garden
Center for Diva Fuchsia after mid-April.
You're really going to enjoy the results.
While
much of the information in this tip
is applicable in several gardening
zones/climates, some of the plants
and timing suggested are best suited
to the Northwest, generally in the
mild/wet growing regions found along
the I-5 corridor. You should make
appropriate adjustments or consult
local gardening experts in regions
whose climates differ from this area
of the Northwest. |
