Fuchsia Bella Lydia

Fuchsia Lydia is a particularly floriferous variety from the Bella series, characterised by a bushy, semi-trailing habit and foliage that is lighter green than other fuchsias from this group. The fresh green colour beautifully complements the simple red and pink-purple flowers. This plant blooms abundantly from early summer to the beginning of autumn. It is stunning in a pot or hanging basket, and is easy to grow in partially shaded, fertile, moist, and well-draining soil.

There are thousands of hybrid fuchsias. For the most part, they are derived from Fuchsia magellanica and F. fulgens, with occasional contributions from F. triphylla, which adds length to the flowers, characterised by thin tubes and violet-hued undersides of the leaves. All these herbaceous to woody plants, varying in hardiness and growth habit, belong to the Onagraceae family.

Fuchsia Lydia quickly forms a compact bushy plant with a semi-upright habit, reaching a height of 30cm (12in) and a width of 40 to 45cm (16 to 18in). Its flowering period extends from June to September-October. The single flowers consist of a tube extended by 4 red sepals and a corolla of wider and slightly shorter petals in a violet-pink shade, nestled within the outer sepals. Long fuchsia-pink stamens add to the colour harmony. The initially herbaceous stems become somewhat woody over the season. They bear an abundance of foliage composed of slender deciduous leaves, arranged in opposite whorls of 3 or 5, with dentate margins, measuring 3cm (1in) in length. The lanceolate leaves have a shiny light green colour. Its hardiness does not exceed -3°C (26.6°F) in the ground.

Although typically grown as an annual, Fuchsia Lydia is a perennial that can be cultivated in a large pot that can be brought indoors in winter to protect it from frost. It can also grow in open ground for one season. Fuchsias pair well with the foliage of ferns, silver candles, orange or pink heucheras, and blue or light green hostas. In a mixed container, they can be planted with ivy, Dichondra 'Silver Falls', lobelias, or Madagascar periwinkles. This fuchsia also creates a striking effect when combined with dark-coloured coleus varieties such as 'Black Prince' or FlameThrower Salsa Roja.

Discovered in Santo Domingo in the 17th century and acclimatised in Europe, it was named Fuchsia (not Fuschia) in honour of a German botanist named Fuchs. Native to South America, botanical fuchsias have gradually multiplied. There are now believed to be tens of thousands of hybrids!