Why not plant a few fuchsia varieties?

“Imagination is more important than knowledge…�

Spring has set in, despite the remains of a rainy season. Over a strong cup of Catharine’s special brew, I view our garden with anticipation.

I have cleared out the accumulation of last year’s overgrowth, in preparation for planting and can imagine where new flowers will flourish.

Laguna lies in what the Sunset Western Garden Book calls the fuchsia belt — mild winters and relatively cool summers. Our often-foggy days, aptly called modified sunlight, provide the requisite atmospheric and soil moisture. Any location in your garden where you can relax without an umbrella or hat would be perfect for a fuchsia.

Consisting of the classic sepal and corolla, fuchsias look more like jewelry than flowers. Aptly named lady’s ear drops, the flowers are a strong draw for hummingbirds. Perhaps the only minor disappointment is the lack of fragrance.

Plant forms vary from trailing types, which create spectacular hanging baskets to hardy shrubs that may exceed 12 feet in height. Flower sizes and shapes also have wide differences. Miniatures display peanut size flowers, while giants can exceed a small fist in diameter. Color ranges are limited to white, red, pink and purples, but have combined to form hundreds of known varieties.

The relatively mild winter has meant that fuchsias are blooming and will do so until cold weather revisits. Major pruning should occur this month to keep plants vigorous. It is recommended that all of the prior year’s growth be removed, leaving two healthy leaf buds per stem.

Continued pinching of “leggy� growth throughout the year will ensure a healthy and compact plant.

Rich, porous soil is essential for culture, as it is virtually impossible to over-water plants grown in hanging baskets and containers.

Overhead watering is recommended for a number of reasons: Humidity is maintained, pests are washed off, and leaves are kept clean.

Fertilization should be undertaken monthly with a liquid, complete-fertilizer.

The fuchsia gall mite has proven to be a serious pest, and actually prompted the decline of fuchsia production a couple of decades ago.

Mite-resistant plants are available, and early detection and removal of distorted tissue can control the problem. Whitefly and spider mites are also common pests.

Washing foliage and the application of oil-based pesticides can discourage most pests.

It is not clear yet what new flowers will grace our garden. Strong consideration shall be given to fuchsia, which is easy to grow and continue to display an exotic flourish that will never be considered ordinary.

STEVE KAWARATANI is married to writer Catharine Cooper. He can be reached at (949) 497-8168, or e-mail to [email protected] .