Golden Fuchsia (Deppea splendens)
April 24, 2008 — Vasant M. SalianGolden Fuchsia (Deppea splendens) is a cloud forest plant, native to the Chiapas mountains in Mexico, that is virtually unknown in cultivation and presumed to be extinct in the wild. One of the rarest plants in the world, Deppea splendens looks fuchsia-like but is actually a close relative of the coffee plant. Amazingly striking, its flowers are peach coloured or canary with a contrasting burgundy sepals. It is not frost tolerant, likes warmth but not extreme heat.
Nine non-cloned individuals are known to exist in the entire world. Many of the seedlings had died in the freeze of the early 1990s which further reduced this rarest of plants.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Deppea
Species: Deppea splendens
Pronunciation/Meaning:
- Deppea (DEP-ee-a) - Named for Ferdinand Deppe, 18th century German botanist.
- splendens (SPLEN-denz) - Splendid.
Common Names:
- Golden Fuchsia, Cristobal
Links:
Image Courtesy of Michael Graupe.
