(Giant Voodoo Fuchsia) Long, rosy anther and stigma filaments sway beneath the dark red sepals and deep purple petals of giant Fuchsia 'Giant Voodoo' flowers nestled amid glossy mid-green foliage. It's a hummingbird magnet that is dramatic spilling over a hanging basket.
One aspect of a giant Fuchsia hybrid's size is its flower's number of petals. Giants, such as Voodoo, often are doubles, which means they have 8 or more petals. Some are semi-doubles with 5, 6, or 7 petals. Fuchsias categorized as singles only have four.
Horace Tiret (1915-2012), a certified public accountant who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and hybridized flowers in his free time, created garden magic in 1955 with his introduction of Fuchsia 'Voodoo'. It's a dramatic favorite on shady patios to this day.
Voodoo is a short, upright Fuchsia with relaxed branches that trail easily. In addition to hanging basket plants, the genus includes shrubs and climbers of varying heights. All require rich, moist (not soggy) soil and need fertilizer every two to three weeks. Some Fuchsias thrive in full sun, but all are agreeable to varying amounts of shade. Voodoo is one that needs partial shade all day, such as dappled sunlight under trees.
The Fuchsia genus has homelands worldwide yet is primarily located in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Fuchsias became happy transplants to the Pacific Northwest and other cool, coastal climates (such as in Ireland and the UK) in the 1800s.
Flowers by the Sea is proud to grow lovely, resilient plants like Fuchsia 'Giant Voodoo' that help create enchanting gardens.