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More South Portland Study Weekend Gardens, pt. 2

The last three gardens on last Saturday's tour included a large shade garden, a tropical oasis and an Asian-inspired retreat. First, the Hilderbrand garden in Oregon City. This garden is set in a grove of Douglas Fir trees and has paved pathways that meander through plantings of dogwoods, hydrangeas, viburnums, kalmias and other shade-loving plants.  The garden of Michael Hicks and Megan Big John is a quarter-acre plot in West Linn. This garden is packed with plantings of tropical plants with big beautiful leaves and vibrant pops of color. Helena Wagner's "4 Seasons Garden" is a garden that I have visited in the past. It features an Asian-inspired theme with beautifully placed plants, with nice colors and contrasts. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Tree Fuchsia


So this plant showed up at work and I was intrigued. A tree fuchsia? I snatched one up and put it on my shelf. I usually accumulate several plants by the end of the week and decide on Saturday which ones I'm actually going to purchase. I almost put the tree fuchsia back but
thought, what the heck, I will stick it in a pot and see what happens.

An Internet search offered some information. Fuschia arborescens is a native of Central America and a member of the evening primrose family Onagraceae.  A tender perennial that can get quite large - up to 15 feet! It doesn't look like any fuchsia I've seen but the flowers are pretty and remind me of cleome or lilac. In the fall, purple/black fruits follow. 

I placed it on our deck in a spot that gets virtually no direct sunlight. It started blooming a few weeks ago. Last week, I moved it over to an area that gets direct morning sun. It seems that the blooms have increased. Information on hardiness seems to be erratic. I would think it would need protection from freezing temperatures. Time will tell.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Kris PetersonJune 23, 2021 at 10:27 AM

    There is (or was, as I don't remember seeing it on my last visit) one of these plants at my local botanic garden. It held up well in partial shade, screened from the more intense afternoon sun, there but I don't suppose that's helpful information for you. Like my garden, the nearby botanic garden is frost free.

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  2. chavlinessJune 23, 2021 at 1:10 PM

    Sometimes it's just fun to experiment, especially if you are intrigue and the information is sketchy.

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  3. Lisa at GreenbowJune 23, 2021 at 6:06 PM

    It seems like I have read a blog out your way that has these trees. I hope it does well for you.

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  4. luv2gardenJune 24, 2021 at 8:51 AM

    Interesting post. I purchased this plant last year and didn't really know what it was other than the ubiquitous 'Fuschia' tag. Alas it didn't do well for me (shady but hot in a hanging basket) but reading your post just might have to try it again now knowing how it like to grow.

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  5. Hoover BooJune 24, 2021 at 2:17 PM

    It's very pretty--no wonder it caught your eye!

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