Zauschneria californica

syn. Epilobium canum

Californian fuchsia

In a corner of our garden, we have a raised bed which is very sunny and very well drained. From about August onwards it is a riot of late summer and autumn colour composed of very drought tolerant, rather assertive plants which include limonium, crocosmia, perovskia, sedum and low grasses amongst many others (and by assertive I mean that they all have to get on with it, get on with their neighbours and fend for themselves!).

And this is exactly what the Californian fuchsia does so well – it mingles, slowly spreading by underground stolons. Sometimes I feel I should give it a bit more space where it can properly show off but somehow there is never quite enough room.

This is a very hardy perennial, disappearing completely over winter, but coming back rather late in the growing season to produce a succession of bright red tubular flowers over grey-green foliage. There are a number of named varieties, but ours was a division from a friend, so I have no way of knowing if it’s one of these.

If you feel tempted to try a zauschneria there is one named ‘Dublin’ (also known as ‘Glasnevin’) which might be the one to go for as it has been awarded an AGM from the Royal Horticultural Society.

NB Louise has published a beautifully produced book of her plant profiles – A Plant for Each Week of the Year. It costs £9.99 and is for sale in our online shop here.

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