Moving an aged fuschia

Hello,

I need to move a very old (over 40 yrs) hardy fuschia. It can't stay where it is, but we'd like to save the plant for sentimental reasons. I've successfully taken cuttings, just in case.

It's hard as nails, and just beginning to bud. Is now a good time? Should I cut it back severely before lifting? It seems to be multi stemmed - is it likely that I can move one trunk with roots, while leaving the main plant intact, just in case my initial attempt fails?
Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

I think its risky, and whenever I've cut a fuchsia of that size back at this time of year its bled badly, I'm thinking it will have some big fangy roots that you might have to cut off.

I'm assuming its roots might be fairly shallow as its up against the footings of the wall.

If you can leave half of it and only take the other half I'd try that first , looks like there is a chance to divide it in the middle.

 

Thanks Pete - better to do it now than in mid-summer, when the builders knock the wall down?

 

Well, I would think better now, yes.
If its got to go, its got to go, so really just a damage limitation exercise, unfortunately.

 

Have moved some 20 year old 4ft high hardy Fuchsias and as @pete says they do have some equally big tap style roots that will doubtless snap off, leaving few fibrous roots.

We did the same as you taking cuttings but also replanted the old roots and though they did put out new shoots, the cuttings made far better plants and we eventually threw out the old plants as they just did not grow evenly or look good.

Do you know the plants name, could it be Lady Boothby ?

 

I think it's either Mrs Popple or the Irish hedgerow one, magellanica. It's about 8 foot tall, free standing, grows like mad, and covered in abundant fuschia pink/purple flowers about an inch long. Lady Boothby is a climber, I believe?

 

Hi,

Won't be Mrs. Popple as she only grows to 1 mtr.

Could be either of those other two -

Magellanica -




Lady Boothby - a little rounder in flower, not a climber as such, just a tall plant we have to support / tie in.

 

Must be the Magellanica then! The flowers look right, and it certainly doesn't need tying to anything, it's a tough old thing. The bees love it! It's a positive hive in summer, so I've got to be careful not to re-plant too close to where the children/dogs roam. Do they fare well in pots?

 

Yes, but you will need to keep putting into a larger one as it grows.

In winter you might need to give the pot / roots some protection against heavy frosts /freezing.

 

Something like that will always be better in the ground IMO.

Save the smaller less hardy, large flowered ones for pots.