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Fuchsia Mrs. Popple replacement

Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
in Plants
I'm at my wits end with fuchsia rust, all the types I have but Genii seem susceptible, touch wood.

Thinking I'll get rid of Mrs Popple in the border here, which is a pity as it flowers profusely and the bees love it. 

I have a fair mix of plants and have a lupin, geranium and rosemary that are early flowering in this area.

Any suggestions for a similar sized plant that flowers into Autumn that the bees love? Location gets full sun.


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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    One of the Salvia gregii group known as Autumn Sage or Autumn Clary. Mine are covered with bees all summer and autumn.

    Salvia gregii ‘Lipstick’ will give you a similar shade of crimson to Mrs Popple

    https://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/salvia-greggii-lipstick/classid.2000019829/

    Although Crocus describes it as half hardy my gregii varieties get no special treatment ... in fact they’re in a big of a frost pocket and they’re very happy indeed. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Mmm how confident do you reckon that hardiness is replicated?

    French lavender won't survive a winter outside here.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Done a bit of reading and gardeners world reckons Jezebel should be fine with full sun and good drainage

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/325763/Salvia-Jezebel/Details

    Might well give something like these a go then given they flower for ages.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Mine have been in their current spot ... west facing bed with afternoon sun ...  free draining gritty loam in Norfolk...  for at least 6 years so they’ve had the Beast from the East etc and are fine. I don’t cut them back until they start into new growth in mid spring and then cut them back by about half.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Would you recommended planting in spring so they have a chance to establish before winter?

    I can always buy now and keep in a pot until then.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I would plant now into warm soil so their roots can establish before winter. Mulch with some dry bracken/compost/bark chip before winter to protect the crown. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Sedum spectabile is in flower just now and caters for lots of pollinators.  That sunny border would suit it well, though in that narrow space it might get leggy and flop forward.  If you find that to be so, you can prevent it by a Chelsea chop.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Dovefromabove said:
    I would plant now into warm soil so their roots can establish before winter. Mulch with some dry bracken/compost/bark chip before winter to protect the crown. 
    Mmm not sure I have it in me to dig up the fuchsia while it's in full flower...

    Regarding the sedum suggestion, I actually already have Autumn Joy right at the end of the border already.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Is there nothing wrong with that particular fuchsia?  It’s such a shame to dig up plants that will bloom from summer through to Christmas. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Lyn said:
    Is there nothing wrong with that particular fuchsia?  It’s such a shame to dig up plants that will bloom from summer through to Christmas. 
    Rust and getting worse, same as last year. It's still flowering well for now but it'll eventually lose its vigour.
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