Epilobium canum (Z)

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California fuchsia

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California fuchsia RHS
California fuchsia RHS / Lullingstone Castle.

Other common names

hummingbird's trumpet, Californian fuchsia

Synonyms

Zauschneria californica subsp. angustifolia, Zauschneria californica subsp. cana, Zauschneria californica, Zauschneria californica var. villosa, Epilobium californicum misapplied, Epilobium canum subsp. angustifolium, Zauschneria microphylla, Epilobium canum subsp. mexicanum, Epilobium microphyllum, Zauschneria cana, Zauschneria cana villosa, Zauschneria californica subsp. mexicana, Zauschneria villosa, Epilobium villosum

Plants for pollinators
Shrubs
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A spreading semi-evergreen shrub to 30cm tall, with small grey-green leaves and fuchsia-like, tubular red flowers 4cm long in late summer and early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Onagraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Epilobium can be annuals or perennials, sometimes invasive, with erect stems bearing willowy leaves and showy, 4-petalled flowers in terminal racemes
Name Status
Correct
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

Formerly known as Zauschneria
Plant Range
W Central USA to N Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in sheltered, well-drained beds, especially raised beds and in walls, where there is full sun all day

Propagation

Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings or division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning not normally needed, cut back to rootstock in spring to renovate

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free