Re: Fuchsia magellanica
You might be able to find a hardy form - check the provenance. It
is native from latitude 31 degrees S in Chile and 40 degrees S in
Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego, on west-facing mountains, along
streams in Nothofagus forest and coastal Drimys-Nothofagus forest.
That is a fair bit of country, and surely you could get seed
collected high and south.
Here in coastal British Columbia, it remains as a shrub about 2
metres high most years, but in a bad winter will get killed back to
the root. It flowers till hard frost. I was hoping mine would
continue flowering longer, as one of the Anna's hummingbirds is
spending the winter in my garden.
Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
zone 8, Sunset zone 5, cool mediterranean climate (rainy winter, dry summer)
