PlantFiles: Golden Fuchsia, Cristobal
Deppea splendens

Deppea spendens, extinct in the wild, is one of the most beautiful and sought-after plants. It's irridescent, textured leaves are showy even when it is not in flower. However, the flowers, reminiscent of fuchsia but in dark orange and yellow, are showstoppers.

Native to the cloud forests of Mexico, D. splendens is now living only in cultivation from seeds brought out of the native habitat prior to its destruction. There are several strains around but few plants are generally available and those that exist are in a few private collections and botanical gardens.

A close relative of coffee, this plant has outstanding landscape potential although handles frost poorly. Many of these scarce plants were killed in unexpected frosts at botanical gardens.

Itis unknown as to whether seed will ever be available for this plant but right now they seem to be cutting grown.

Added 9/13/06
So there are several cultivars which may prove important as we go forward with this plant in getting it to seed. Seemingly D. splendens will not seed from self-fertilisation so a second clone is neccessary in order to set seed. Strains which are now in botanical gardens and collections include 'Augusten', one from Strybing labelled 'S' (probably their in-the-ground plant), clone 'A' and 'B', and 'Cristobal'. It is unclear whether A is also the strain called Augusten and whether 'Cristobal' is also called 'C' in some collections but I have no 'C' although I have collected the rest in an attempt to procure seeds at some point. Again, more than one type of clone (an 'A' AND a 'B' - not two 'B's) are likely neccessary to get D. splendends to set seed. Rumour of it setting seed at the Huntington in Los Angeles is not confirmed and although they have two fairly mature plants planted close to one another, no seed pods were in evidence when I visited there recently during the end of Deppea's bloom cycle so I think that is in doubt. Because of the rarity of this plant, I think most collections have only one clone so this may be the hold up.