Fuchsia 'Claire de Lune'

HARDY FUCHSIA
syn. n/a
Family: Onagraceae
Pronounced: FEWK-see-ah (Most people pronounce it FEW-shah.)

 

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

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GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
Garden.

Plant Group:
Perennials.

Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 4-6, 15-17, 22-24, H1
USDA zones: 8-10.
Heat zones: This is heat tolerant, but no zone information is available.

Mature size:
Height: 30 inches (76 cm).
Width: 30 inches (76 cm).

Flowering period:
Summer until first frost.

Flowering attributes:
A single flower with long, salmon tubes and sepals with deeper hued orange to salmon corollas.

Leaf attributes:
Large (2-3 inches, 7-10 cm) , green leaves, slightly bronze underneath.

Light:
Partial shade to full sun.

Soil:
Fertile, moist, well-drained soil.

Feeding:
Side dress with compost or manure. Fuchsias are heavy feeders, so fertilize monthly with a complete organic fertilizer, from spring through July.

Propagation methods:
Softwood cuttings in spring.
Semi-ripe cuttings in late summer.

Pruning methods:
When buds begin to swell in spring, cut back dead stems as necessary.

Pests and Diseases:
Aphids may be a problem. Gall mites aren’t problematic for us in the Northwest, as they are in California.

 

Rainy Side Notes

I fell in love with the name ‘Clair de Lune’ because it sounded so romantic. And no wonder—her name is French for moonlight.

Bred in France circa 1880 and raised by Rozain Boucharlat, Fuchsia ‘Claire de Lune’ has the most scrumptious orange hues with tinges of salmon in her blossoms. Two other similar fuchsias—‘Coachman’ and American-bred ‘Shanley’—have flowers that are endowed in shades of this same vibrant salmon-orange. However, ‘Claire de Lune’s triphylla-like tubes are richer in color and longer in length, while the sepals and tubes of the other two are a more pastel salmon-pink.

A lax bush, ‘Claire de Lune’ is a good candidate for hanging baskets. I am growing mine on top of a rock wall and I plan to grow another one in a hanging basket.

Photographed in author's garden.

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