Correa Pulchella
By Linda Lewis Griffith UCCE Master Gardener
Common Name: Pink Australian Fuchsia
Planting Zone: Sunset zones 14-24
Size: 2-2 ½ feet tall, 8 feet wide
Bloom Season: Late fall into spring
Exposure: Full sun; partial shade in hottest climates
Pruning Needs: Regular light pruning stimulate new growth and flowers. Can become rangy
Water Needs: Moderate watering, tolerates drought. Do not overwater
Narrative: Corrella pulchella is an evergreen shrub native to the coastal edges and inland foothills of Australia and Tasmania. It lives in areas with poor, rocky, well-drained soil and seasonal drought. It tolerates both wind and salt spray, making it well-suited to the central and northern California coast. It is hardy to 20 degrees. Australian Fuchsia has long, narrow fuchsia-like flowers that are ½-1 inch long and can be red, pink or orange. They hang from branches like tiny, delicate bells. Small, rounded leaves are green above, gray-green below and densely felted underneath. One popular cultivar, ‘Mission Bells,' has deep pink to red flowers. ‘Pink Eyre' is compact, 2-3 feet, and has rose-pink flowers nearly year-round and shiny dark green leaves. ‘Pink Flamingo' has shiny green leaves and salmon-pink blossoms. Correas are members of the Rutacceae family that also includes citrus.
The plant name, Correa, comes from the Portuguese botanisit, Jose Francisco Corrreia de Serra. The word pulchella means “beautiful” in Latin.
Corella pulchella is an attractive but not showy plant that is used primarily as a ground cover on banks and slopes. It also works in mixed plantings and in large containers where delicate flowers can be enjoyed close up. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers' nectar, making it an ideal addition to a wildlife garden. It is deer resistant. Correa pulchella is hardy, with few pests. However, it can be killed with excessive fertilizer or water. It should not get reflected heat from a wall or pavement. It can be difficult to propagate using seeds; however semi-mature stem cuttings can be successful.
Master Gardeners is currently accepting applications for its 2020 training class. Applications are due September 27, 2019. The class runs from January 7 through May 19, 2020. An informational meeting will be held Tuesday, September 10, 2019, from 1:00 to 3:00 at the UCCE Auditorium, 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo. For more information, visit our website, www.ucanr.edu/sites/mgslo or call (805)781-5939.