Fuchsia arborescens, 20 seeds

To many folks, the two species Fuchsias under section Schufia are barely recognizable as Fuchsias at all. Indeed, who would have thought the Lilac Fuchsia (F. arborescens) and the Shrubby Fuchsia (F. paniculata), with their laurel-like leaves and lilac-like-clusters of flowers are actually related to the hybrid Fuchsias we commonly know ? Both of them come from the moist, cool rain forests of Central America, and are so hard to find and rarely seen in cultivation that they are often mistaken for each other. Fuchsia arborescens is mite resistant, and deserves greater distribution. It forms a spectacular tree-like shrub. Free blooming, its dark purplish-pink buds open to paler pink flowers and is extremely showy at its peak. Upon pollination, the blossoms turn into attractive blackish-blue berries. Glossy green, large, lustrous leaves. Hardy from zone 9 upwards. 10 feet tall, 8 feet wide. Light shade. Moist, rich soil. Hard-to-find fresh seeds, harvested 07/2011.