Hardy Fuchsia question..?

I live in zone 5/Mattoon IL. and I would love to get some Hardy Fuchsia plants, but I'm confused- in a catalogue it said they can be in zone 5 but now I'm looking at the net and I'm finding websites saying they are not hardy to zone 5. what's with that? Are there ones that are hardy to zone 5? Or will I just have to put mine deeper into the gound so that the winter wont kill them?


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Hardy Fuchsia question..?
In order to avoid confusion, can you give the botanical name of the fuchsia you are looking to buy? That would help in giving you the proper answer.





If it's Zauschneria that the previous person stated, it's really only hardy to about 10 degrees. It's a California native and likes dry conditions, so it's only good if its' getting well-draining soil and placed with plants with similar water needs. I too have seen this plant rated from z5 to z3 but I'd be hard to see if get that low. Now if someone has it thriving in those low temps. -please speak up as I would love to know. Zauschneria has gone through a name change and some species are now known as Epilobium.





But again, give us the one you are looking at and we can give you a better answer. :)





EDIT: I've just gotten my botanical book out and am looking at Epilobium's zone ratings:


E. alsinifolium-z3


E. alsinoides-z8


E. anagallidifolium-z6


E. angustifolium-z3


E. brevipes-z8


E. canum (syn. Zauschneria californica)-z8


E. chloraefolium-z8


E. crassum-z8


E. dodonaei-z6


E. fleischeri-z5


E. glabellum-z8


E. hectori-z8


E. hirsutum-z8


E. komarovianum-z8


E. latifolium-z5


E. luteum-z3


E. pedunculare-z8


E. purpuratum-z8


E. septentrionale-z8


These are mostly native to New Zealand and the US. So, some are quite hardy while others are not. Check the variety first to be sure of its rating.





EDIT 2: Okay, it's probably the Fuchsia magellanica judging by the picture. It's root hardy to about 5-10 degrees maybe a little lower. The foliage will be damaged but the roots can go lower. You can give it winter protection at the base to keep the roots warm. My book says Z6. I've grown this one and the variegated one. Both are very pretty. I suppose you can try one out and see what it does. I would plant it as early in the season as possible so that it can get nicely established before the cool weather sets in. Hope this helps. :)
Reply:It depends on which one you get. I found one that's hardy to zone 3 (http://www.hamlens.com/nl/nl0502.html ), another that's only hardy to zones 7/8 (http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Cur... ).





I would try one of the hardier types and use straw or other cover in the winter.
Reply:Don't plant them deeper, that will kill them. If you are worried about them, just mulch them over in the winter with grass or leaves