Cape Fuchsia Phygelius × rectus 'Salmon Leap'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' is a charming garden perennial known for its striking and vibrant appearance. This plant boasts tubular flowers that display a beautiful salmon-pink hue, evoking a sense of warmth and exuberance in the garden. The flowers are borne in abundant clusters that dangle gracefully from the stems, creating a picturesque display that can catch any passerby's attention. The foliage of the Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' forms a lush backdrop for the showy blooms and consists of glossy, deep green leaves. The leaves are often lance-shaped and may have a slightly serrated edge, giving them a textured look that complements the softness of the flowers. As a perennial, the plant has the ability to come back year after year, continually presenting its delightful flowers throughout its blooming season. The overall aspect of the Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' is one of relaxed elegance, with its cascading flowers and verdant leaves creating a visual feast for the eyes. Though we are avoiding mention of its size, this plant typically maintains a well-proportioned form in the landscape, making it a versatile choice for gardeners looking to add some floral pizzazz to their outdoor spaces.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Scrophulariaceae
- Synonyms
  Cape Fuchsia, Cape Figwort
- Common names
  Phygelius × rectus 'Salmon Leap'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Cape Fuchsia (Phygelius × rectus 'Salmon Leap') is generally considered to have a low level of toxicity to humans. While it does not commonly cause serious poisoning, ingestion of parts of this plant can potentially lead to mild gastrointestinal upset, including symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is important to note that the level of toxicity might vary, and sensitive individuals could possibly experience more pronounced symptoms. As with any plant, it is prudent to avoid ingesting any part of it without proper knowledge of its edibility and safety.
- To pets
  Cape Fuchsia (Phygelius × rectus 'Salmon Leap') is also considered to have a low level of toxicity to pets. If pets ingest parts of this plant, they might experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms, which could include vomiting and diarrhea. As different pets may have varying sensitivities, some may be more affected than others. However, significant toxicity is rare. It is still advisable to prevent pets from chewing on or ingesting this plant to avoid any possible discomfort or more serious complications that may arise from its consumption.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Semi-deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Salmon
- Height
  3 feet 6 inches (1.07 meters)
- Spread
  3 feet (0.91 meters)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts pollinators: The tubular flowers of Cape Fuchsia are known to attract hummingbirds and bees, which can help pollinate other plants in the garden.
- Long blooming period: Cape Fuchsia has a long flowering season, often from early summer to fall, providing extended color in the garden.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, Cape Fuchsia is relatively drought-resistant, making it suitable for water-wise landscapes.
- Versatility in the garden: It can be used in a variety of settings, including borders, containers, and as a focal point due to its vibrant color and upright form.
- Low maintenance: Cape Fuchsia typically requires minimal care beyond the occasional pruning to maintain its shape and encourage new growth.
- Rapid growth: It has a fast growth rate that allows it to quickly fill in garden spaces, making it an excellent choice for new gardens or to replace plants that didn't thrive.
- Deer resistance: The plant is not favored by deer, which makes it an excellent choice for gardens in areas where deer browsing is a problem.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- As a natural dye: The flowers of Cape Fuchsia can be used to produce a delicate dye for fabrics, offering a range of salmon to soft pink hues depending on the mordant used.
- In potpourri mixes: The dried flowers can add color and a mild fragrance to homemade potpourri.
- Cape Fuchsia honey: When bees have access to large plantings of Cape Fuchsia, their honey can have subtle floral notes influenced by the nectar of these flowers.
- Photography subject: Due to its showy and unique flowers, Cape Fuchsia is often used as an interesting subject in garden and macro photography.
- Education: The unique flower structure can be used in educational settings to teach about plant morphology and pollination strategies.
- Garden design: This plant can be used to create 'living walls' or vertical gardens, due to its upward growth and lush foliage.
- Eco-friendly confetti: Dried petals can be used as biodegradable confetti for outdoor celebrations to avoid littering.
- Theme gardens: They are perfect for creating hummingbird, butterfly, or bee-friendly gardens, helping to conserve and attract pollinators.
- Culinary decoration: While not commonly consumed, the flowers can be used as a garnish for special dishes due to their bright color, after ensuring they are free of pesticides.
- Art supplies: The stems and flowers can be incorporated into eco-friendly crafts, such as homemade paper or natural wreaths.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Cape Fuchsia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Cape Fuchsia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Attraction: With its vibrant salmon-colored blooms, Cape Fuchsia (Phygelius × rectus 'Salmon Leap') often symbolizes attraction and magnetism, drawing both the eye and various pollinators.
- Persistence: Cape Fuchsia is known for its hardiness and ability to thrive in various conditions, making it a symbol of persistence and resilience.
- Adaptability: This hybrid plant can adapt to different environments, so it symbolizes adaptability and flexibility in life.
- Protection: Gardeners sometimes plant Cape Fuchsia to attract hummingbirds, which in turn help to protect the garden from pests, symbolizing protection and natural pest control.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Cape Fuchsia should be watered regularly, aiming to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. During the growing season, water approximately once a week, but adjust based on weather conditions; hot, dry spells may necessitate more frequent watering. A deep watering with approximately 1-2 gallons for outdoor plants is advisable to ensure that the moisture reaches the roots. In winter, reduce watering, but do not let the soil dry out completely. Always check the top inch of soil for dryness before watering.
Light
Cape Fuchsia thrives in full sun to partial shade. The best spot for this plant would be a location where it can receive at least 4-6 hours of sunlight per day. Avoid placing it in deep shade as that can lead to fewer blooms and a leggy plant. Dappled shade can be suitable especially in hotter climates, where afternoon shade can prevent scorching.
Temperature
Cape Fuchsia prefers temperate conditions and can survive in temperatures ranging from about 20°F to 90°F. However, the ideal temperature range for this plant is between 60°F and 75°F. Ensure protection from severe frost, as temperatures below 20°F may damage or kill the plant. When grown in zones outside 7-10, it should be treated as an annual or given winter protection.
Pruning
Prune your Cape Fuchsia to maintain its shape and encourage bushier growth. The best time for pruning is in early spring before new growth begins. Cut back the previous year's growth to about a few inches above ground to stimulate new shoots. Deadheading spent blooms during the flowering season will also promote continuous blooming.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' prefers well-draining soil rich in organic matter with a pH ranging from neutral to slightly acidic. A mix of two parts garden soil, one part peat or coconut coir, and one part perlite or sand would be ideal. Regularly add compost to maintain soil fertility for optimal growth.
Repotting
The Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' should be repotted every 2-3 years or when it has outgrown its current container. Regular repotting helps refresh the soil and gives the plant space to grow, resulting in healthier growth and more vibrant blooms.
Humidity & Misting
Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' can adapt to a wide range of humidity conditions; however, it prefers moderately humid environments. Average room humidity is typically adequate, but in drier climates, occasional misting may benefit the plant.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' near a bright window and water regularly.
- Outdoor
  Plant Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' in partial sun and moist soil.
- Hardiness zone
  7-10 USDA
Life cycle
The Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' begins its life cycle with seed germination, which occurs under optimal conditions of warmth and moisture, usually in spring or early summer. Once the seedlings emerge and establish true leaves, they enter a period of vegetative growth, developing a sturdy stem and a bushy structure with dark green, glossy leaves. As the plant matures, it enters the flowering stage in late spring to early summer, producing long, tubular salmon-pink flowers that are attractive to pollinators such as hummingbirds and bees. After pollination, the flowers develop into small capsule-like fruits containing seeds, completing the reproductive phase of the cycle. As autumn approaches, the plant may begin to show signs of dormancy, with leaves and stems dying back in colder climates, while in milder regions, it can retain its leaves year-round. With the arrival of the next growing season, the Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' may produce new shoots from the base or surviving stems, repeating the life cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The Cape Fuchsia 'Salmon Leap' can be propagated primarily through softwood cuttings during spring or early summer. To do this, select healthy, non-flowering stems and cut a section about 4 to 6 inches (approximately 10 to 15 cm) in length. The cut should be made just below a leaf node. Stripping the bottom leaves and dipping the cut end into a rooting hormone can enhance rooting. The prepared cutting is then placed in a pot with a mix of peat and perlite, ensuring good contact between the cutting and the medium. The pot should be covered with plastic to maintain humidity and placed in indirect light. Roots usually develop within a few weeks, after which the new plants can be gradually acclimatized to ambient conditions before transplanting.