Question from
Jan Clifford
I have just grown this year several 'Lady Boothby' Fuchsias which are doing brilliantly and still vigourously flowering but I do not know if I need to prune them back and if so, when?
Can anyone advise me - thanks Jan.
Comment from
Jill Bagnall
If you like mixed colours there is a lovely violet blue climbing aconitum; Aconitum hemsleyanum which would contrast. Other aconitums could be grown at the base to give variations on the blues violets and there are some white/purple varieties like Aconitum x cammarum 'Bicolor'.
You might need some lighter colours to lift the scheme, especially in dull weather in the shade. What about Clematis 'Huldine' a late viticella. It's head will try and reach the sun, but its feet will be happy in the shade, it has a purple streak in the white petals. Or if you fancy slightly more in your face contrast (yellow) what about good old Clematis 'Bill Mackenzie' or similar. Attractive seed heads long after the flowers too.
Question from
Alison Hyde
I have bought this fuchsia to grow up a wall of large boulders. Which other plants would compliment this? The area is partial shade/shade and about 10ft high x 20 ft long and needs a variety of climbing, trailing and colour
Comment from
Georgie
Don't believe the hype about this Fuchsia! It is not a climber - it just grows tall (about 2m) in a season. That said, I have found it to be hardy and it does well in containers in the semi shade. The flowers are an intense deep red/purple so this year I'm thinking of growing something much lighter (perhaps Helichrysum or Euonymous Silver Queen) behind them to set them off as they tend to get 'a bit lost' against the fence.
Georgie
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