Fuchsia magellanica var. gracilis Aurea

The Fuchsia magellanica var.gracilis Aurea or Magellan Fuchsia, distinguishes itself from the species with its golden foliage, very bright in shaded areas of the garden. This colourful little bush forms red stems that bear long bronze-yellow leaves and a multitude of long bicolour bells, red and violet-purple, so light that they seem to dance at the slightest breeze. It will accompany hydrangeas with its long flowering, alongside autumn asters and finally the most beautiful autumn foliage. This variety, endowed with good hardiness, should be planted in semi-shade or even shade, in a moist soil without excessive limestone, in open ground or even in a large pot on the terrace.

The Fuchsia magellanica var.gracilis 'Aurea', named after the Strait of Magellan, its region of origin, is a bush from the Onagraceae family. This plant with an upright but slightly trailing habit distinguishes itself by its smaller size than the species and its foliage clearly tinted yellow. It can reach a height of 80 cm (31.5 in) to 1 m (3 ft 4 in), with a spread of 60 cm (23.6 in). Its oval and elliptical leaves are shiny, initially green-yellow and then tinted with bronze, traversed by red veins and attached to very dark branches by red petioles. This vegetation makes a magnificent background for the flowers. They are numerous, very light and generously bloom throughout the summer, from June to November. Shaped like 4 cm (1.6 in) long bells, they hang at the end of the stems, swaying in the wind. They are composed of a long fleshy calyx with four sharp-pointed sepals in a pinkish-red, in which a violet corolla is embedded. Long red stamens emerge from it. The entire plant is remarkably colourful. The flowering is followed by the formation of small black fruits.

The Fuchsia is a somewhat forgotten bush that only needs to be rediscovered. The shades of this 'Aurea' variety are splendid as are its delicate and colourful flowers; care should be taken not to drown them in an excess of flowers that would overshadow their beauty. It will be enhanced by foliage plants with similar cultivation requirements, such as actaea, physocarpus, ferns, rodgersias or even European spindle trees, splendidly red in October. It finds its place in the background or in the middle of a flower bed, depending on the size of your garden, forming an original backdrop. This bush also serves as a base for shade or semi-shade compositions, in which it brings its bright hues. It can also be kept in a large pot on the terrace or balcony, to enjoy its extraordinary colours for a long time.