Fuchsia 'LADY THUMB'

Once upon a time there was a boy named Tom who was so tiny that he got a name Tom Thumb. When he grew older he found himself a girl who was tiny, too, and everyone called her Thumbelina. However, when the two decided to get married the officer at the registry did not like such informality and as she lacked sense of humour completely she stopped her from using her nickname officially and put her down as Lady Thumb.

Lady Thumb is also a name of this awesome fuchsia variety. Its flowers are rather large, with fuchsia pink sepals and almost white, wide tubes. They contrast beautifully with deep green background of handsome foliage. It grows small and compact, like a cushion. Flowering begins in late June and peaks in late summer, usually in late August and early September when the plant is literally covered with flowers.

Hardy outdoor fuchsias need to be grown in full sun or minimum shade. They need moisture from spring until they become dormant so water them freely. Mulching is recommended. It is true that they hate winter wet yet they should not dry out in long and dry winters. They are not fussy about soil pH. They need well-drained, humus-rich soil. Hardiness oscillates around -23°C.

Last update 28-09-2016