Fuchsias

Study fuchsias by distance education. Learn about hundreds of species, cultivars and hybrids: as a nurseryman, gardener, plant breeder, collector or someone starting a career or business.

Course Code: VHT112
Fee Code: S2
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
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Learn to Identify and Grow Fuchsias

  • Learn to Identify Different Species and Cultivars
  • Explore different ways of growing
  • Start a Fuchsia business, work in a nursery, or indulge a passion

Open your eyes to the world of fuschias. Fuchsias are a colourful group of plants with many varieties to collect and enjoy. The way you treat a fuchsia plant should be different from place to place, time to time, and according to what you are trying to get from the plant.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

  1. Introduction
    • Review of the system of plant identification
    • General characteristics of fuchsias
    • Information contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs)
  2. Culture
    • Planting
    • Staking
    • Mulching
    • Watering
    • Pest & disease
    • Feeding
    • Pruning
    • Protection from wind etc.
  3. Propagation
    • Propagating and potting media
    • Methods of propagating this group of plants.
    • Stock plants
    • Softwood cuttings, Semi hardwood cuttings
    • Hormones
    • Creating the best cutting environment
  4. The Most Commonly Grown Varieties
    • Magellanica hybrids
    • Triphylla hybrids
    • Upright (bush or shrub) fuchsias
    • Tall growers (suited to standards)
    • Dwarf Fuchsias
    • Trailing Fuchsias
  5. Other Important Groups
    • Quelusia Fuchsias
    • Eufuchsia Fuchsias
    • Ellobium, Kierschlegeria,Skinnera and other groups
    • How to train a Standard Fuchsia
    • Creating an Espalier fuchsia
  6. The Lesser Grown Varieties
    • Various species fuchsias
  7. Making the Best Use of Fuchsias
  8. Special Assignment - On one selected plant or group.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Identify different Fuchsias
  • Describe the culture of Fuchsias
  • Propagate Fuchsias
  • Describe the identification and culture of commonly grown Fuchsias
  • Compare a range of commonly grown Fuschias.
  • Discuss different lesser cultivated varieties of Fuchsias
  • Determine and explain a variety of ways Fuchsias may be used.
  • Discuss one aspect of Fuchsia cultivation in depth.

How Many Different Fuchsias are there?

There are over 8,000 fuchsia cultivars in existence and more and more are becoming available every year; this can make identification difficult.

Often, where a plant is cultivated can have an effect on its character, making it difficult to place. But if you study the individual characteristics, you will soon find the qualities that link each hybrid to its original parent.

Most modern hybrids or cultivars are derived from two groups:
1. The magellanica hybrids a cross between F. magellanica and F. fulgens. These hybrids most often have bi-coloured flowers; red, cerise, pink, "orange", purple or white is most common. The flowers grow from leaf axils - each with 3 buds ie. 1 vegetative and one vegetative bud with 2 flower buds on either side. Flowers come as singles (with 4 petals in the corolla) or double (with 8 ‘petals’ in the corolla) or semi-double 4 – 8 ‘petals’ in the corolla. Double flowers may be sterile as they are bred so that the stamens flatten out to resemble petals (they are not true petals). These plants grow in moist cool places and do not tolerate full sun or heat.

2. The triphylla hybrids – originating from F. triphylla and its allies including F. boliviana. These hybrids have the typical long tunnel (cigar shaped) flowers which form terminal spikes. The leaves are in whorls of three (hence triphylla). They can usually withstand heat and full sun.


TYPES OF FUCHSIAS

Some species and hybrids can be used across a wide range of different situations; adapting to variations in shade. light, moisture and humidity; but others are less adaptable, and may need a far higher level of care and attention.
Many may be available in your country; but often a cultivar grown in one country and found in one book or article, may not necessarily be available outside of the country where it was developed.

Hardy Fuchsias to Consider Growing

Cultivar
Height
Type
Flower
Year
‘Abbe Farges’
60cm
Semi-double
Tube and sepals light cerise, corolla rosy lilac.
1901
‘Alice Hoffman’
60cm
Semi-double
Tube and sepals rose, corolla white veined with rose
1911
‘Baby Thumb’
30 - 45cm
A sport of ‘Lady Thumb’
Variegated green and cream foliage - tube and sepals light carmine with corolla white.
1992
‘Beverly’
60 - 75cm
Single
Tube and sepals rose, corolla flushed pink.
1976
‘Blue Bush’
100 -120cm
Single
Tube and sepals rosy red, corolla blue fading to purple.
1973
‘Charles Welch’
60 - 75cm
Single
Tube and sepals ruby, corolla aubergine fading to ruby.
2004
‘Dollar Princess’
45 – 60cm
Double
Tube and sepals cerise, corolla rich purple.
1912
’Duchess of Cornwall’
60cm
Double
Lax growth; large double flowers. Tube and sepals bright red, corolla pure white.
1986
‘Edith’
90 - 120cm
Sport of ‘Margaret’
Tube and sepals red, corolla soft lavender.
1980
‘Frau Hilde Rademacher’
To 60cm
Double
Lax growth; rich red tube and sepals, corolla lilac blue.
1925
‘Genii’
75 – 90cm

 
Pale yellowish/green foliage; tube and sepals cerise, corolla rich violet.
1951
‘Hawkshead’
120 – 150cm
Single
White; green tips to sepals.
1962
‘Katie Rogers’
75cm
Single
Pinkish tube and sepals with mauve-lilac corolla. Flowers held horizontally.
2002
‘Lady Thumb’
30 – 45cm
Semi-double
Tube and sepals light carmine, corolla white veined carmine.
1966
‘Little Blue Boy’
 
Double
Small abundant flowers; Red tube and sepals with blue-purple corolla.
2002
‘Margaret’
120-130cm
Semi-double
Tube and sepals carmine, corolla violet with red veins; Early.
1939
‘Mrs Popple’
75 – 90cm
Single
Tube and sepals scarlet, corolla violet-purple.
1899
‘Ricartonii’
150cm
Single
Tube and sepals bright red, corolla dark violet. (Species rather then cultivar).
1830
‘Schneewitcher’
75cm
Single
Tube and sepals rich waxy ared, corolla rich violet blue.
1884
‘Tennessee Waltz’
60 – 75cm
Semi-double
Tube and sepals rose madder, corolla lilac lavender.
1950
‘Tom Thumb’
30 - 45cm
Single
Tube and sepals carmine, corolla mauve.
1850
‘White Pixie’
To 60cm
 
Tube and sepals red carmine, corolla white veined pink.
1968
 

WHY CHOOSE TO STUDY FUCHSIAS WITH US?

  • Reputation: ACS is well-known and respected in horticulture internationally
  • Experience: Our staff have been growing fuchsias for decades
  • Great Support: Qualified horticultural tutors can be contacted 5 days a week; assignments generally marked within a week.
  • Track Record -We have been writing about and teaching people to grow fuchsias since the 1980's. Our principal and staff are authors of an e book on fuchsias -you will be supplied a copy of this book as a reference in this course.

This is a unique opportunity to study fuchsias in a way that few other colleges offer, anywhere in the world. Graduates will have a significantly expanded understanding of how to identify and grow different fuchsia cultivars and an expanded awareness of the many different ways they might be used.

Principal of ACS Distance Education, John Mason, is fellow of the CIH.
Principal of ACS Distance Education, John Mason, is fellow of the CIH.
Member Nursery and Garden Industry Association.
Member Nursery and Garden Industry Association.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
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More information is here

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Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Rosemary Davies (Horticulturist)

Leading horticultural expert in Australia.
Rosemary trained in Horticultural Applied Science at Melbourne University. Initially she worked with Agriculture Victoria as an extension officer, taught horticulture students, worked on radio with ABC radio (clocking up over 24 years as a presenter of garden talkback programs, initially the only woman presenter on gardening in Victoria) and she simultaneously developed a career as a writer.
She then studied Education and Training, teaching TAFE apprentices and developing curriculum for TAFE, before taking up an offer as a full time columnist with the Herald and Weekly Times and its magazine department after a number of years as columnist with the Age. She has worked for a number of companies in writing and publications, PR community education and management and has led several tours to Europe.
In 1999 Rosemary was BPW Bendigo Business Woman of the Year and is one of the founders and the Patron, of the Friends of the Bendigo Botanic gardens. She has completed her 6th book this year and is working on concepts for several others.
Rosemary has a B Ed, BSc Hort, Dip Advertising & Marketing

Diana Cole

B.A. (Hons), Dip. Horticulture, BTEC Dip. Garden Design, Diploma Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector), P.D.C.
In addition to the qualifications listed above, Diana holds City & Guild construction qualifications and an NPTC pesticide spraying licence (PA1/PA6). Diana runs her own landscape gardening business (Arbella Gardens). Active in many organisations including the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

John Mason (Horticulturist)

Parks Manager, Nurseryman, Landscape Designer, Garden Writer and Consultant.
Over 40 years experience; working in Victoria, Queensland and the UK.
He is one of the most widely published garden writers in the world.

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