Positive
Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Exotic Beauty


Fuchsia Magellanica

This flowering plant of the evening primrose family Onagraceae, commonly known as the hummingbird fuchsia, hardy fuchsia or chilco (from Mapudungun: chillko "watery"), is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South America. Its species grow in temperate southern regions of Argentina and Chile, to the Straits of Magellan, hence the name. It can be found in Australia as well, the species recorded as naturalized in the states of Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. They thrive in damp scrublands, forest edges, or clearings, often close to water sources and yet, can thrive in controlled environments too. According to one source, they arrived in England in the late 18th century:

The English gardener James Lee discovered them on the windowsill of a seaman's house and bought them for a considerable sum. As early as 1793, Lee is said to have sold a large number of pieces that he had pulled from this one copy. Fuchsia Magellanica, and its cultivars and hybrids, are widely cultivated by plant nurseries and gardeners as ornamental plants. They are grown in temperate and subtropical gardens and conservatories, in containers on patios, balconies, and indoors. They prefer a sunny position.

The plants are quite cold-hardy compared to other species from more tropical climates, being deciduous where frosts are light, and only top die back in hard frosts (with mulching). The profuse drooping flowers are a nectar source attractive to hummingbirds.

It has been used in traditional remedies as a diuretic and antipyretic.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuchsia_magellanica )

Another source claims that the hanging growth habit and flared shape of the flower gave rise to the popular name ''Ladies Eardrop " and is highly valued for its showy pendulous flowers, tubular to bell-shaped in shades of red and purple to white.

The Fuchsia Magellanica is very beautiful, its unique appearance and bold, vivid colors make me think Nature went the extra mile creating this flower.

In a Flower-World beauty pageant, I think she would win the crown ☺
Top | New | Old
JimboSaturn · 56-60, M
@LilMissAnonyMOUSE For the last few years, I've been putting it in a pot and sitting it on a table outside. We tried to bring it in for winter one year and it didn't live. We'll research and try again.
@JimboSaturn I hope you find the right balance and succeed ☺
It has a beautiful range of complimentary, bold colors (I can see why hummingbirds would be drawn to it), and I love the the mix of petal shapes, the drooping habit which is an interesting variation from upturned flowers, and how long the filaments protrude beyond the petals, which all combine to give it a complex and pleasingly alien apperance to me, something from a an exotic planet covered only with myriad unique flower species in perpetual bloom.

I don't think I was familiar with this species, thank you for introducing me to it, now I have another favorite ☺
@BlueGreenGrey It does, indeed! Its colors stand out so much that I think the hummingbirds might even compete with the bees.Its petals are amazing, if it were a woman, she's a very well-dressed one, all dressed to the nines. You're right, it does seem like some alien flower! Or maybe a flower from a fantasy realm in another dimension, like somewhere where fairies exist 😄

You're welcome. It can easily be considered a favorite; it's spectacular. I wasn't familiar with this species either, so I was happy to have found it and thought worth sharing☺
@LilMissAnonyMOUSE

Or maybe a flower from a fantasy realm in another dimension, like somewhere where fairies exist 😄

Very much so, and even in our own realm, our Earthly fairies of hummingbirds, butterflies and bees would indeed all be quite enamored with this stylish enchantress, herself resembling a fairy to a degree, perhaps more noticeably so when a tropical breeze makes her flutter 🧚🏻‍♂

Makes me also think botanical gardens should surround art museums ... or maybe this would be too much beauty to absorb at once, but it seems like being locked inside either one overnight to have all to yourself would offer hours of wondrous, stimulating joy ☺
@BlueGreenGrey That's true, it does resemble a fairy and what we could easily imagine a fairy would wear, therefore we shall add a new name to it and call it the fairy flower☺

That would be a good idea, two wonderful places to visit at once. Overnight inside a museum and botanical garden would be fun, no crowds or lines to wait on, just enjoying a private viewing of beautiful things to see.... but we could set off alarms and make the news the next day accused of stealing artworks lol😂 It would be best to start really early, to take a slow, leisurely walk to absorb all the beauty inside the museum and the botanical garden☺
popmol · 26-30, M
looking nice!
@popmol Right? Sooo pretty ☺
akindheart · 61-69, F
beautiful...
@akindheart I agree, it really is ☺
akindheart · 61-69, F
@LilMissAnonyMOUSE i love flowers. i don't think we can grow themin Florida though
@akindheartI love flowers too ☺

Hmmm🤔...I'm not sure....but I think Florida is considered subtropical,right? So I'm thinking it is very possible that you can grow it there and it would thrive perfectly well.
wildfl0wer · 41-45, F
Yes she would! 👑 She's beautiful. 💖
@wildfl0wer I think so too, she's a beauty queen deserving a crown ☺
JimboSaturn · 56-60, M
I have one of those.
@JimboSaturn You do?How wonderful it must be to see the flowers bloom. Do you have it indoors or outdoors?
@YoMomma It is ☺
Degbeme · 70-79, M
''Ladies Eardrop

Ear infection? 😬

Very lovely flowers.
@Degbeme Well...if all ear infections look like this, it wouldn't be so bad lol😆
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
gorgeous snap, did you do the photography?
@samueltyler2 No, but I wish☺ I found this image online. All the pictures I take, I always post under the Photography forum. I agree, it's a gorgeous shot of the flower.
Ferric67 · M
Very exotic and pretty
@Ferric67 I think so too☺

 
Post Comment