Epilobium canum subsp. canum

Read about Epilobium canum subsp. canum in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Zauschneria californica, Presl. California Fuchsia. Humming Bird's Trumpet. Balsamea. Half-hardy perennial with the fl. of a fuchsia and the fr. of an epilobium: height 3/4 - 2 ft.: lvs. linear to oblong, 1/2 – 1 1/2 in. long, pubescent or tomentose: fls. scarlet or vermilion, the trumpet-shaped calyx 1 1/2 in long; calyx-lobes ovate; petals obcordate, spreading: fr. 4-valved, imperfectly 4-loculed. Calif. P.M. 15:195. F. 1847-8:241. Gn. 31: 28 and p. 29. R.H. 1849:141. Var. splendens, Hort., is perhaps a little more luxuriant plant, otherwise not differing from the type. Var. latifolia, Hook. Often nearly glabrous: lvs. broad-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, markedly feather-veined. B.M. 4493. F.S. 4:404.— Varieties have been made based on linear, lanceolate, or ovate lvs., but they run into one another. The plants also vary from glabrous and pubescent to tomentose. As a bedding-plant it has been occasionally used for novelty effects by European gardeners. To overcome its thin and leggy habit, it is well to set the plants rather close and pinch out the young shoots until compact bushes are secured. The plant is sometimes grown in pots for greenhouse decoration in late autumn. There are said to be forms that vary considerably in hardiness. The plant is hardy in most parts of England with slight winter covering. In favored spots it is considered to be a choice plant of pendent habit for the steep sides of rockeries and for naturalizing on old walls. In light and dry soils it spreads underground like the epilobiums. It is prop. by division, by cuttings made in autumn and wintered in a coldframe, or by seeds sown in early spring in mild heat. In Calif. the plant is considered objectionable on account of the unkempt appearance produced by the woolly seeds. It is remarkably resistant to drought. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.