Back to the Fuchsia

Salvia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Moulin Rouge'

Summary: The plants of ‘Back to the Fuchsia' are shorter and narrower than those of ‘Moulin Rouge'. The stems of ‘Back to the Fuchsia' have a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration while that of ‘Moulin Rouge' has a medium to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The petiole of ‘Back to the Fuchsia' is longer than that of ‘Moulin Rouge'. The leaves of ‘Back to the Fuchsia' have a medium level of rugosity and shallow margin incisions while those of ‘Moulin Rouge' have strong rugosity and medium depth margin incisions. The inflorescences of ‘Back to the Fuchsia' are shorter than those of ‘Moulin Rouge'. The length of the internodes of the inflorescences of ‘Back to the Fuchsia' are shorter than those of ‘Moulin Rouge'. The corollas and corolla tubes of ‘Back to the Fuchsia' are shorter than those of ‘Moulin Rouge'.

Description:

PLANT: upright to semi-upright growth habit

STEM: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium density of pubescence

LEAF BLADE: simple type, large length to width ratio, broadest part positioned moderately towards base, acute apex, cordate base, shallow margin incisions, absent or weak undulation of margin
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): medium to dark green, no variegation, sparse pubescence, medium rugosity

INFLORESCENCE: medium number of florets per node, absent or very few lateral branches, erect attitude of tip
BRACT: dark green (RHS 137A) outer side, short, medium degree of persistence
CALYX (OUTER SIDE): dark brown green to medium brown green (RHS 137B/C), sparse pubescence
COROLLA TUBE (OUTER SIDE): dark blue pink to medium blue pink (RHS 70C/D)
COROLLA (UPPER LIP): absent or very sparse pubescence
COROLLA (LOWER LIP): moderately downwards attitude relative to corolla tube, medium purple (RHS 71B/C), absent or weak undulation of margin

Origin & Breeding History: 'Back to the Fuchsia' originated from a controlled cross conducted by the breeder in the spring of 2014 in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. The cross was made between the female parent, a proprietary seedling designated ‘13-24-1 x OP' and the male parent, a sibling of the female parent. The new variety 'Back to the Fuchsia' was selected in the summer of 2016 based on its flower type, plant habit, and disease resistance. Asexual reproduction of 'Back to the Fuchsia' was first conducted by cuttings in 2016 in Zeeland, Michigan, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for ‘Back to the Fuchsia' was conducted during the summer of 2025 at Variety Rights Management in Oxford Station, Ontario. The trial consisted of 12 plants each of the candidate and reference variety, each individually grown in 16 cm pots. Pots were spaced approximately 45 cm apart. Observations and measurements were taken from 12 plants or parts of 12 plants of each variety. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'Back to the Fuchsia' with reference variety 'Moulin Rouge'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Length of internode (cm)

Corolla length (cm)

Corolla tube length (cm)

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Salvia: ‘Back to the Fuchsia' (left) with reference variety ‘Moulin Rouge' (right)

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Salvia: ‘Back to the Fuchsia' (left) with reference variety ‘Moulin Rouge' (right)