Phygelius is a small genus of just two species of flowering evergreen shrubs in the family Scrophulariaceae (figwort family), placed within the order Lamiales. Commonly known as Cape fuchsia or Cape figwort, the genus is native to southern Africa, where both species grow on wet slopes and stream banks. The name "Cape fuchsia" alludes to the vague visual resemblance of the pendent tubular blooms to those of Fuchsia, though the two genera are not closely related.
Plants in this genus are woody shrubs that in their native habitat remain evergreen year-round. In temperate gardens outside their native range — particularly in the British Isles and similar climates — they are frequently cut back by frost and treated as herbaceous perennials that re-sprout from the base each spring. Over a long period through summer, the plants produce upright panicles bearing many drooping, narrow tubular flowers in shades of white, cream, yellow, orange, and red, making them valued ornamental garden subjects.
The genus contains exactly two species: Phygelius capensis, the more widely known Cape fuchsia with typically red to orange-red flowers, and Phygelius aequalis, which tends toward softer salmon-pink and yellow tones. Numerous cultivars and hybrids between the two species are widely grown in horticulture, expanding the colour range available to gardeners.
Etymology
The common name Cape fuchsia reflects both the plant's southern African origins — the "Cape" referring to the Cape region of South Africa — and the superficial likeness of its pendent tubular flowers to those of Fuchsia, a genus in an entirely different plant family. The alternative common name Cape figwort connects it to the broader figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, to which it belongs.
Distribution
Phygelius is native to southern Africa, where both species are found growing on moist slopes, stream banks, and other wet habitats. In cultivation, the genus has been widely introduced to temperate regions worldwide, particularly in Europe, where it is a popular garden plant.
Cultivation
Phygelius species are valued garden shrubs, prized for their long flowering season through summer. In colder temperate climates they are commonly treated as herbaceous perennials, cut back to the base in autumn or after frost and allowed to reshoot in spring. They perform best in full sun to partial shade with moist but well-drained soil. Numerous cultivars and interspecific hybrids have been selected for variation in flower colour across the white, yellow, salmon, orange, and red spectrum.
