Epilobium canum - California fuchsia - Zauschneria is a herbaceous perennial subshrub which reaching to 60 cm tall with slendee, highly branched stem
Epilobium canum, also called as California fuchsia, Zauschneria, Hummingbird flower, Hummingbird trumpet, Firechalice, Epilobium canum subsp. angustifolium, Epilobium canum subsp. garrettii, Epilobium canum var. garrettii, Epilobium canum subsp. mexicanum, Zauschneria californica, Zauschneria californica f. albiflora, Zauschneria californica subsp. angustifolia, Zauschneria californica var. mexicana, Zauschneria californica subsp. mexicana, Zauschneria californica var. microphylla, Zauschneria californica var. typica, Zauschneria californica subsp. typica, Zauschneria californica var. villosa, Zauschneria cana, Zauschneria garrettii, Zauschneria latifolia var. garrettii, Zauschneria mexicana, Zauschneria microphylla, Zauschneria villosa, is a species of the genus Epilobium. This species was described by Peter Hamilton Raven in 1977.
IDENTIFY EPILOBIUM CANUM - CALIFORNIA - FUCHSIA - ZAUSCHNERIA
Epilobium canum is native to Arizona, California, Idaho, Mexico Northwest, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming. It is found growing in dry areas, rocky slopes and cliffs, and montane coniferous forest, and coastal scrub at elevations of 0-3000 meters above sea level.
California fuchsia is a herbaceous perennial subshrub which reaching to 60 cm tall with slendee, highly branched stems and spreads from the base due to a rhizomatous root system. The leaves are toothed, green to white, lanceolate to ovate with densely spreading-hairy and glandular pubescence. The lower leaves are generally opposite while the upper leaves are mostly alternate.
Zauschneria blooms in late summer and autumn from the terminal racemes on a short axillary stems. The flowers are scarlet to red-orange, tubular-funnel form in shape with a basal bulge which gives the flower its resemblance to a trumpet, with four two-cleft petals. Once pollinated the plants produce pods that contain the seeds.
The wide distribution, ease of vegetative propagation and successful production from seed results in locally adapted plant materials being available from local nurseries. There are also several named cultivars including:
- Epilobium canum ‘John Bixby’: Plants quickly develop a pleasing, dense, rounded form reaching twelve to eighteen inches in height and two to three feet wide. All stems arch slightly outward from the center of the plant and carry especially vivid red orange flowers that are markedly flared.
- Epilobium canum ‘Bowman's hybrid’. An upright herbaceous perennial/subshrub to 2 feet tall by equal width with narrow olive-green foliage and bright red-orange flared tubular flowers from early summer until first frost.
- Epilobium canum ‘Catalina’: The soft long silver gray-green foliage on red-tinted branches that reach 3 to 4 feet tall and becomes woody at the base. Bright orange-red tubular flowers have four deeply bi-lobed petals.
- Epilobium canum ‘Splendens’: It is usually low growing, extremely vigorous, and has grayish foliage. Young plants have a sprawling, often gawky habit, but fill in quickly. Stiff flowering stems carry many blossoms.
- Epilobium canum ‘Cloverdale’: Robust growth habit, 2-4 ft. high by 4 feet wide, upright at first then cascading. Olive-green fuzzy leaves with orange-scarlet blooms.
EPILOBIUM CANUM - CALIFORNIA - FUCHSIA - ZAUSCHNERIA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light and exposure:
Epilobium canum does best and will flower most profusely in full sun. But a number of the plants (typically those from farther north, or from higher elevations) grow better in partial shade, particularly in the afternoon. A few cultivars that prefer partial shade in inland Southern California are ‘Alba’, ‘Brilliant Smith’, ‘Dublin’, ‘Everett’s Choice’, ‘Hurricane Point’, and ‘Summer Snow’.
Temperature:
California fuchsia are very hardy and can grow outdoors year-round in USDA hardiness zones 8-11. In cold areas, site the plants in sun pockets where they will benefit from retained heat. In wetter climates, a well-drained soil becomes much more important, as soil that remains soggy will assuredly rot their root system. In these climates, good air circulation is also important.
Soil:
Zauschneria are perfect for containers, rock and gravel gardens, raised beds, stone walls, or just in an area that gets little irrigation. Its low-growing habit makes it suitable for the front of the sunny border too. It can tolerate low moisture and nutrient poor soils, and prefers a near neutral soil pH.
The plants prefer to be grown in well-drained soils, sandy or gritty soils are much better than heavy clay soils, although many will thrive in heavy soils as long as they are not overly wet. Avoid planting them on flat ground, as they will likely rot in such locations during wet winters. Rich soils may make your plants grow too quickly, shortening their lives.
Watering:
Water lightly to moderately every day at least a month or so for new plantings to establish an extensive root system; then, adjust the watering interval according to your site conditions: relatively more frequent irrigation on well-drained soils, less irrigation on heavy soils. Leaves turning yellow or brown can indicate over- or under-watering. Once etablished, you can water it once a month without much danger.
Fertilizer:
Epilobium canum can be fertilized every year or two, about a month or so after they have been cut back and after new growth has begun to emerge. Apply the fertilizer at one quarter to one-third the rate recommended on the label.
Pruning and grooming:
The plants that is expected to grow taller than 18 inches should be pinched or lightly sheared during late spring. This light shearing is rarely necessary more than once, but will result in more side shoots that will enable the plant to hold itself together when it produces its heavy load of late summer and fall blossoms. Tall, unpinched or unsheared plants will look perfectly fine until they bloom, when the weight of the blossoms will cause the plants to flop open, revealing an abundance of unattractive dried leaves and bare stems.
California fuchsia tend to get straggly after flowering by late fall or early winter. Best to cut them back to the ground as soon as the flowers are spent, and they'll come back back lush and healthy in the spring. Otherwise, they'll look straggly and unhealthy the next year, and are more likely to die. When pruning, take care to avoid breaking off the tender young shoots and buds that may already be sprouting from the base of each plant.
Winter period:
A single mowing of established plants in the winter minimizes woody build up and promotes new growth in spring and summer. Although the plant is a drought tolerant plant, irrigation during dry periods prolongs the bloom period.
Pests and diseases:
Zauschneria are susceptible to slug and snail damage, common rusts and fungal spots, and powdery mildew. Maintaining healthy growing conditions, helps prevent diseases. Make sure soil is well drained and do not over water. In cases where damage is escalating use common pest control methods to manage any signs of damage or disease.
Propagation:
Epilobium canum can be grown from seed, stem cuttings, or division. Seeds should be sewn in a good potting mix, barely covered and kept moist until germination. The seedlings grow rapidly and often bloom the first year. Stem cuttings can be taken at any time, near the growing tip with several leaves included. Plant division is perhaps the easiest method if large growing specimens are available. In fall or winter take several stems with roots and rhizomes attached and water well in the new location.
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