Fuchsia ‘Splendidissima’
In 1852, in the pages of The Gardeners Chronicle, Edward George Henderson & Son, of St Johns Wood, advertised the Fuchsia ‘Splendidissima’ for sale: ‘Unrivalled first class show flower, for exhibition purposes; the flowers of large size and great substance; sepals well reflexed, with fine, smooth, crimson tube, and large violet-purple corolla; the plant of good habit and free flowerer; altogether this is a very superior variety.’ [Gard. Chron. 1852].
Horticultural & Botanical History
A specimen seen at Henderson’s Nursery was described in the Floricultural Cabinet: ‘The new Fuchsia splendidissima. Tube of medium size, that and the well-reflexed sepals are crimson, the corolla is exposed to full view, and inch and a half long, of a rich violet-purple. The large flowers on long slender foot-stalks, seen at a distance, appear like very large beautiful flies on the wing.’ [FC p.220/1852].
A plant of this name was bred and introduced by Schüle in 1852, probably in Germany. Schüle’s and Henderson’s plants may be different. [FS p.152 vol.10/1855].
History at Camden Park
Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.496/1857]. The plant described by Henderson is most likely the one grown by Macarthur. Whether this is the plant bred by Schüle is unclear.
Notes
Published Aug 23, 2009 - 02:41 PM | Last updated Sep 01, 2011 - 03:31 PM
| Family | Onagraceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Garden origin, probably England or Germany |
| Synonyms | |
| Common Name | Fuchsia |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Fuchsia Splendidissima |
| Confidence level | medium |
