If you happen to be lucky enough to find yourself in sunny southern California on the fuchsia trail—or any gardening trail in fact—a visit to ➤Weidners’ Nursery in Encinitas, located just a tad inland on the coast north of San Diego, is an absolute must. For years, Weidners’ has been celebrated for its annual display and spring offerings of huge, lush, almost sinfully abundant baskets of hanging flowers. Especially fuchsias. They’re almost legendary, in fact. It was standing under one such amazing, massive basket that I re-realized what a wonderful cultivar ‘Pink Marshmallow’ really is. Especially standing under it in the light of its own bright California skies.
Bred by the late, great Annabelle Stubbs (1913-2003) of Fort Bragg, California in 1971, ‘Pink Marshmallow’ is now a member of that élite and classic group of California double hybrids that includes such earlier California landmarks as ‘Swingtime’ (Tiret in 1950) and ‘Dark Eyes’ (Erikson in 1958). Between 1970 and 1997, Stubbs registered seventy-three new fuchsias noted for their well-formed flowers and the pleasing pastels of their colors. Like it’s famous compatriots, ‘Pink Marshmallow’ is a natural trailer, well suited to culture in hanging baskets, and it became an almost instant hit around the world when it was first introduced. Its abundant, very large flowers have pink tubes and broad, pinkish sepals, with green tips, that are elegantly reflexed over a full, ruffled petticoat of a corolla. The white petals are flushed with a bit of pink, attractively highlighted with some darker pink veining. The leaves are light to medium green. Seductively attractive and very easy to grow, 'Pink Marshmallow' is an excellent choice for both beginners and the experienced alike. Thank you, Annabelle!
Basket of ‘Pink Marshmallow’ grown by Weidners’ Nursery in Encinitas, California. (AFS No. 996)
