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Fuchsia. Hardy or not?

B3B3 Posts: 25,161
in Plants
I wonder  if an can tell me whether  this fuchsia  is hardy  or not. It survived  in unheated  porch  last  year and a small  nest  of meadow  ants too so it's  been  through  the wars.
The flowers  are actually  blacker  than they  look  in the photos 





In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • 2 point 42 point 4 Posts: 60
    @B3 Your fuchsia looks like it could be Blackie/Blacky. If so, it is not officially on the BFS list of hardy fuchsias.  However, from personal experience, I’ve found it to be hardy enough to leave in the ground in a sheltered spot for at least the last 4 winters.  I do take insurance measures though and overwinter some cuttings as suggested above.
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,161
    @philippa smith2 the answer is the answer and I pretty much expected it😉
    To be honest, the flowers are lovely but the plant is a bit of a tatty prima donna perhaps
    It didn't have a great time with the ants in the pot so I've been a bit more tolerant. Space will be at a premium in the porch so I was hoping I could leave it outside. 
    Thanks Philippa
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,867
    Strangely enough, my Blacky doesn’t do well outside, if I put it out it starts to look unwell, bring it in and off it goes again.  So it’s only a fair weather plant for me. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,092
    Ants in the pot indicates it was too dry so no wonder it's looking sad.   Take some cuttings as insurance then feed and water the parent and see how it goes.  Keep it dead headed and use the cuttings process to improve its shape.   You might need to mulch its crown for extra winter protection but you'll have the cuttings as back-up.   Worth the effort as it's lovely.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,161
    There were about half a dozen confused and lonely ants in the pot. They must have got in before I put it in the porch for the winter. i must admit, I'm a bit lax about watering overwintering plants.
    It makes sense to take some cuttings. They'll take up less room anyway😊 Good plan.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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