Phygelius spp.

Cape fuchsia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Phygelius is a genus of two species of evergreen to semi-evergreen subshrubs in the family Scrophulariaceae, native to South Africa, where they grow along mountain streams and damp slopes. Phygelius capensis and P. aequalis, together with their hybrid P. × rectus, form suckering clumps of upright stems 24-60 inches (60-150 cm) tall that spread by underground runners into wider colonies. The opposite leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, toothed, and 1.5-5 inches (4-13 cm) long, carried on squarish stems. From summer into autumn the plants produce branched, open panicles of pendent tubular flowers 1-1.6 inches (2.5-4 cm) long, in shades of coral-red, orange, pink, pale yellow, and cream depending on species and selection; the curved tubes flare into five short lobes. In the native range the flowers are visited by sunbirds, and in cultivation they draw nectar-feeding birds and insects. The stems are soft and only semi-woody, so in cold-winter regions top growth dies back and regrows from the base. Plants can spread quickly by suckers in fertile, moist ground, which limits their use in confined beds.

Native Range

Phygelius is native to South Africa, including the Drakensberg and Eastern Cape, where it grows along streamsides, seeps, and damp mountain grassland. Both species favor moist, well-drained sites at mid to high elevations.

Suggested Uses

Used in mixed and shrub borders, against warm walls, and in moist sunny beds where its arching flowering stems are wanted from summer to autumn. Also grown in large containers and in wildlife plantings for nectar-feeding birds and insects.

How to Identify

Recognized by squarish stems bearing opposite toothed leaves and open panicles of pendent, narrow tubular flowers with five flared lobes. Flower color ranges from coral-red and orange to pale yellow and cream, the tube often a different shade from the lobes. The suckering, semi-woody habit and long-stalked hanging flowers separate Phygelius from true fuchsias, for which it is sometimes mistaken.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 5'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering begins in early summer and continues into autumn, often over 10-14 weeks where the growing season is long. Removing the first flush of spent panicles extends the display. Light frost ends flowering.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Coral-red to yellow and cream

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Phygelius in full sun to part shade on moist, fertile, well-drained soil, with shelter from cold drying winds. Water regularly through the growing season, as the genus comes from streamside habitats and resents prolonged drought, though established plants tolerate brief dry spells. In zones 7 and warmer the framework is often semi-evergreen; in colder areas it behaves as a herbaceous perennial, dying to the ground and regrowing from suckers in spring. Plants spread by underground runners and may need a barrier or regular division to stay in bounds. A spring mulch supports the moisture-loving roots, and feeding is rarely required on good soils.

Pruning

In mild areas, shorten the previous season stems by about one-third in spring to maintain a bushy framework. Where top growth is killed by frost, cut all stems to the ground in late winter and new shoots will replace them. Deadheading spent panicles through the season prolongs flowering.