Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' (Hardy Fuchsia 'Madame Cornelisen') — Bushy or arching shrub; trailing in basket cultivars

Overview

Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' is a bushy or arching shrub; trailing in basket cultivars shrub in the genus Fuchsia, part of the Onagraceae family, with deciduous, or evergreen in mild areas; oval, toothed, mid to dark green foliage. Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' grows best in partial shade to full sun; light shade gives the best flower colour, and tolerates fertile and moisture-retentive loam soils and acid and neutral or alkaline pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H2-H3 for tender kinds; H4-H5 for hardy shrubs. Suggested uses include borders, containers, shaded garden areas and ornamental shrubbery.

About

Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' is a multi-stemmed, arching fuchsia that carries abundant flowers from June to October. It has oval, toothed leaves that are mid to dark green and may be evergreen in milder areas. Plants perform best in fertile, moisture-retentive loam in a sheltered, east- or west-facing spot. Trailing forms of this cultivar are frequently used in hanging baskets and containers.

About the genus

Fuchsia is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees.

Wikipedia contributors, "Fuchsia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Fuchsia

In the garden

A cultivated hybrid within the genus Fuchsia (family Onagraceae), Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' belongs to a group whose wild relatives are largely native to the Americas and some Pacific islands. As a garden shrub it forms a well-branched, arching framework and is offered both as upright shrubs and trailing basket selections. Flowering runs from June to October, providing long seasonal interest. Position plants in partial shade to full sun; light shade often brings the best flower colour. Use a fertile, moisture-retentive loam and avoid sites that waterlog—soil should remain moist but well drained. The plant tolerates acid, neutral and alkaline soils, so pH is rarely a constraint. Prefer a sheltered aspect facing east or west to reduce exposure to drying winds. As a hardy fuchsia it sits in the H4–H5 range, meaning average to hardy in UK terms, so choose a protected spot in colder districts. Suitable uses include mixed borders, containers, shaded garden areas and ornamental shrubberies; trailing cultivars work well in hanging baskets. Remove spent flowers during the season and, after the last blooms in October, shorten the longest arching stems to tidy the plant and encourage robust spring shoots.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Fuchsia

Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun; light shade gives the best flower colour
Soil type: Fertile, moisture-retentive loam
Soil pH: Acid, neutral or alkaline
Soil moisture: Moist but well drained
Aspect: West or east facing for preference
Exposure: Sheltered
UK hardiness: H2-H3 for tender kinds; H4-H5 for hardy shrubs

Plant details

Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Shrub
Habit: Bushy or arching shrub; trailing in basket cultivars
Foliage: Deciduous, or evergreen in mild areas; oval, toothed, mid to dark green
Suggested uses: Borders, containers, shaded garden areas, ornamental shrubbery

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen'

Cultivation: Hardy fuchsias behave as herbaceous plants in cold gardens, dying back to a woody base and reshooting in late spring, so plant them a little deeper than usual to protect the crown and be patient before assuming a loss. Feed and water freely, since continuous flowering is hungry work. Tender cultivars need frost-free winter quarters or annual replacement from cuttings.
Pruning: Leave top growth over winter as crown protection, then cut hardy kinds back to a low framework in mid-spring once new buds break. Pinch young shoots to build a bushy plant, and prune tender kinds hard in spring after overwintering.
Propagation: Softwood cuttings root with unusual ease in spring and summer and are the standard method for every cultivar. Species can be grown from seed.
Pest resistance: Vine weevil in containers, capsid bug distorting shoot tips, and fuchsia gall mite, which causes severely deformed growth and has no chemical cure.
Disease resistance: Fuchsia rust produces orange pustules on leaf undersides in humid conditions, and grey mould affects plants overwintered under glass.

Frequently asked questions

How do I grow Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen'?

Hardy fuchsias behave as herbaceous plants in cold gardens, dying back to a woody base and reshooting in late spring, so plant them a little deeper than usual to protect the crown and be patient before assuming a loss. Feed and water freely, since continuous flowering is hungry work. Tender cultivars need frost-free winter quarters or annual replacement from cuttings.

Where is the best place to plant Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen'?

Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' prefers partial shade to full sun; light shade gives the best flower colour. It suits sheltered positions.

What soil does Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' need?

Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' grows best in fertile and moisture-retentive loam soil. It prefers acid and neutral or alkaline soil. Aim for soil that stays moist but well drained.

How do I prune Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen'?

Leave top growth over winter as crown protection, then cut hardy kinds back to a low framework in mid-spring once new buds break. Pinch young shoots to build a bushy plant, and prune tender kinds hard in spring after overwintering.

Is Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' hardy in the UK?

Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen' has an RHS hardiness rating of H2, meaning it is tender, tolerating 1–5°C, and needs frost-free protection over winter.

How do I propagate Fuchsia Hybrids, Hardy 'Madame Cornelisen'?

Softwood cuttings root with unusual ease in spring and summer and are the standard method for every cultivar. Species can be grown from seed.

More in the Fuchsia genus

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