Phygelius African Queen - Cape Fuchsia

The Phygelius x rectus 'African Queen' is an old variety of Cape Fuchsia that provides a beautiful alternative to hardy fuchsias for the decoration of our gardens and terraces. Capable of regrowing from its stump if well protected in winter, this superb bushy perennial produces clusters of flowers in the shape of long tubular and pendulous bell-shaped flowers, with an intermediate shade between red and coral pink, revealing a barely visible tender yellow throat, both soft and bright. They appear as if suspended above its dark green foliage, which will persist more or less throughout winter depending on the climate. This variety grows rapidly and flowers throughout the summer, starting from the year of planting. Cape Fuchsia thrives in a moist but well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Called Cape Fuchsia perhaps due to the shape of its flowers and foliage, Phygelius is an herbaceous undershrub with woody base, evergreen in its native climate, considered a bushy perennial in cold climates. It belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family, not the Onagraceae family, which includes the well-known genus Fuchsia. The 'African Queen' variety is a horticultural hybrid obtained in 1969 by cross-breeding Phygelius aequalis and P. capensis 'Coccinea', a hardier variety with carmine red flowers. Its hardiness is approximately equivalent to that of Fuchsia magellanica (-10/-12°C). The stump emits underground stolons that allow the plant to spread, without becoming invasive.

 'African Queen' stands out for its floribundity and the superb red-coral pink colour of its long tubular flowers. They are grouped in unilateral spikes at the end of bare branches that rise above its dark green foliage. They bloom throughout the summer on a bush that reaches an average height of 90 cm (35in) and a width of 1 m (3ft), almost fully grown in a few months. Each flower, in the shape of a trailing trumpet, is carried by a recurved peduncle. The corolla forms a very elongated tube, sometimes reaching 6 cm (2in) in length, open with 5 lobes bordered by a brighter tone, from which the stamens and fuchsia red pistil emerge. A light yellow throat can be seen at the centre of the flower. The foliage consists of simple, ovate leaves with toothed margins, and its colour is a dark green.

The Fuchsia-Phygelius 'African Queen' will find its place in sunny or partially shaded flower beds, for example alongside Fuchsia magellanica 'Tricolor' or 'Alba', blue or white agapanthus, and asters that will take over after its flowering. It can be interesting to place it at a height, above a low wall, in a rockery or raised flower bed, or even in a large hanging basket, in order to observe the flower from below. Phygelius perennials bring an exotic touch to wild-looking flower beds, as their smaller flowers compared to penstemons and richer hues attract numerous pollinating insects. 'African Queen' will be magnificent next to a white-flowered Dierama (Guinevere) and a Miscanthus yaku Jima, alongside a short grass meadow. Phygelius also grows very well in pots.