Providing exemplary late season colour are two members of the genus Fuchsia.

Fuchsia ‘Mrs. Popple’ is a cultivar with upright growth covered in large red / purple pendulous flowers with a blousy personality. The flower parts extend well beyond the end of the rolled petals. Hardy through Edinburgh winters, the deciduous growth is annually cut back with fresh vigorous shoots arising from the woody base.

F. arborescens a true species native to Central America (Mexico). Large, deciduous, mid green leaves on red fleshy stems, all this season’s growth. Masses of delicate pink pin point flowers are held in large terminal panicles. Recurved sepals reveal the extended flower parts terminating in a cup shaped stigma. This extruding stigma and style double the length of the flower.

The flower drops with clean abscission allowing the swollen black multi seeded fruit to develop. We are left with a botanical feature resembling the phosphorous headed match of my youth.

Fuchsia ‘Mrs Popple’

Fuchsia arborescens