Hardy Fuchsia "Genii"

Day 287: Even when not in bloom, Hardy Fuchsia "Genii" adds a spectacular accent to the flower bed. Its chartreuse-gold foliage fairly glows against darker greens, and when the flowers emerge, it sets off the combination of pink and purple in a striking manner. "Genii" has the potential for becoming an unruly, leggy shrub, but can be pruned to a smaller size without detriment to the plant while keeping foliage production more concentrated. New leaves appear on both fresh and old stems, emerging somewhat later from last year's wood. I usually prune old stems back to a foot in height or take them out entirely. Hardy at least to 0°, "Genii" takes the cold better than many other hardy fuchsia cultivars and will reward you year after year with delicate flowers reminiscent of those of its larger annual cousins.