Small leaf fuchsia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small leaf fuchsia |
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| Leaves and flowers of Fuchsia microphylla subsp. aprica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Fuchsia
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| Species: |
microphylla
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Fuchsia microphylla, also known as small leaf fuchsia and small-leaved fuchsia, is a flowering shrub in the family Onagraceae. The specific epithet (microphylla) was named for the plant's small (micro) leaves (phylla).
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Distribution
Fuchsia microphylla is native to southern Mexico south to Panama.
Description
It is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub which grows to 1.8 meters (6 feet) in height at a medium rate and has a spread width of 3 feet (0.9 meters). It is herbaceous, perennial, hermaphrodite and is pollinated by insects. It flowers from September to October and attracts wildlife. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and US zones 8–11, and is not frost tolerant. It is cold hardy to 10–15 F (−12.2 to −9.4 C) with wall shelter. It grows well in light, medium, and heavy soils and prefers moist, well-drained soils. It is suitable for acid, neutral, and basic soils. It grows best in light and semi-shade conditions and can be found growing in oak and pine woods in Mexico or low thickets and exposed rocky places in Guatemala between 1200 meters (3937 feet) and 3800 meters (12467 feet) in elevation. The fruit is edible and is dark in color, round in shape, and measures up to 1.5 centimeters in diameter, although it normally measures 5 millimeters in diameter. The flavor is sweet but mild. The plant is variable but usually grows erect, although in more shady woodland can develop climbing habits with stems 500 centimeters (16.4 feet) long. It normally forms clumps or bushes. It is both dioecious and self-fertile. The flowers are not fragrant and are tubular, pendent, and pink in color, and are very small. The leaves measure up to 4 centimeters in length, although are normally much smaller. They are generally oblanceolate to obovate in shape, although can be ovate or lanceolate and are usually toothed, though some varieties are not. New growth is red and the plant can be grown in a pot. Plants in the section Encliandra are defined by the protrusion of only four stamens from the flower tube, rather than eight. The other four stamens are enclosed within the tube.
Uses
The plant is grown as an ornamental and the berries are collected locally and eaten.
Pests
Fuchsia microphylla is vulnerable to whiteflies, capsid bugs, red spider mites, rust, aphids, black vine weevil, smut, gray mold, fuchsia gall mite, and fuchsia flea beetle. It is resistant to honey fungus and rabbits.
Hybrids
Fuchsia × bacillaris, a natural hybrid between Fuchsia microphylla and Fuchsia thymifolia, was documented in 1832.
Gallery
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Branches of Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hemsleyana
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Leaves and flowers of Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hemsleyana
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Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hidalgensis
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Flowers and leaves of Fuchsia microphylla subsp. hidalgensis
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Fruiting branch of Fuchsia microphylla
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Erect Fuchsia microphylla plant
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Fuchsia microphylla plant at the Botanical Garden of Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico
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