Phygelius x rectus 'Winchester Fanfare'

CAPE FUCHSIA
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Pronounced: foo-GAY-lee-us

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes
Comments

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GROWING GUIDE

Geographic Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Shrub.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 4-9, 14-24.
USDA zones: 8-9.
Heat zones: 9-8.
Mature size:
Height: 5 feet (1.5 m).
Width: 5 feet (1.5 m).
Flowering period:
Summer.
Flowering attributes:
Showy, tubular, pale red flowers with yellow throats.
Leaf attributes:
Four-inch long, deep green, ovate leaves.
Growth habit:
Suckering shrub.
Light:
Full sun.
Soil:
Moist, well-drained, fertile soil.
Propagation Methods:
Softwood cuttings in late spring.
Remove suckers in spring.
Pruning Methods:
In the Northwest cut back to the ground in spring.

There are two species of phygelius that come out of South Africa. A cross of both species, P. aequalis and P. capensis, produced Phygelius x rectus and from there came hybrids such as P. 'Winchester Fanfare'. All are hardy here in our maritime climate. P. 'Winchester Fanfare' stays evergreen but sometimes becomes ratty looking toward the end of winter. A good pruning in early spring takes care of that, and it soon grows back to its full glory. It is a suckering shrub, so you want to site it carefully away from small plants. Away from other plants, you can easily dig out the suckering stems.

Cape fuchsias can use a mulch in winter, preferably a dry one. This shrub is an excellent nectar source for hummingbirds. Plant a phygelius and watch the hummingbirds flock to it.

Photographed in author's garden.