First fuchsias to grow
The first fuchsia of the many of the present fuchsia fans in Japan could
be the Angel's Earring series. It was first introduced in 1994.
It's not that there had not been any fuchsia in Japan's market before. Fuchsias were, however, less familiar to ordinary people.
It's not that there had not been any fuchsia in Japan's market before. Fuchsias were, however, less familiar to ordinary people.
Angel's Earring
Variety unknown.
In my humble opinion, the introduction of the first three varieties of
the Angel's Earring made many people discover the charm of fuchsia. I should
say the Angel's Earring achieved good success, because even now the series
is available in Japan's flower market where a lot of plants come and go.
Since Suntory flowers is a subsidiary of a well-known liquor manufacturer Suntory Holdings Ltd., some call the Angel's Earring "sakaya kei (= liquor maker series)" (which could be translated as "liquor plant" jokingly).
The Nishinomiya Plant Research Center is an institute established by the City of Nishinomiya (Hyogo Prefecture) for the research and hybridization of plants appropriate for the local climate.
Since Suntory flowers is a subsidiary of a well-known liquor manufacturer Suntory Holdings Ltd., some call the Angel's Earring "sakaya kei (= liquor maker series)" (which could be translated as "liquor plant" jokingly).
The Nishinomiya Plant Research Center is an institute established by the City of Nishinomiya (Hyogo Prefecture) for the research and hybridization of plants appropriate for the local climate.
Heat tolerance
One of the advantages of the Angel's Earring fuchsias is heat tolerance.
I know all the varieties of the Angel's Earring are tested under extreme
conditions before they can come onto the Japanese market.
In late 1990's, three more varieties were introduced. Between 2000 and 2008, further varieties debuted, making the total number of varieties available in Japan twelve.
In late 1990's, three more varieties were introduced. Between 2000 and 2008, further varieties debuted, making the total number of varieties available in Japan twelve.
Growing interest, mounting dilemma
People always want something new and different.
The Angel's Earring's flowers are rather plain in shape and small in size.
This turned fuchsia fans' interest to a galaxy of imported cultivars, and it is easy to imagine that they came to realize how sensitive to heat stress the majority of foreign-bred fuchsias are. At the same time they found that the Angel's Earring is a sort of exception.
The Angel's Earring's flowers are rather plain in shape and small in size.
This turned fuchsia fans' interest to a galaxy of imported cultivars, and it is easy to imagine that they came to realize how sensitive to heat stress the majority of foreign-bred fuchsias are. At the same time they found that the Angel's Earring is a sort of exception.
Mauve
The plain flower of the Angel's Earring is perhaps a trade-off for its
heat tolerance. The main value of the Angel's Earring is reliability in
hot climates, which I think is of big importance upon which the feature
of fuchsias depends in the typical climate of Japan.
Japanese fuchsia fans living in hot climates might feel dilemma when choosing between the Angel's Earring which is plain but highly heat-tolerant, and imported cultivars which are more sophisticated but don't survive the hot summer.
The answer is perhaps to "buy both."
Japanese fuchsia fans living in hot climates might feel dilemma when choosing between the Angel's Earring which is plain but highly heat-tolerant, and imported cultivars which are more sophisticated but don't survive the hot summer.
The answer is perhaps to "buy both."
Trading designation
The Angel's Earring series is known as "Angel Earrings" in the
USA and Canada, and as "Sunangels" in the EU.
Individual variety names are also different between Japan and other countries.
Available varieties differ depending on the country. I haven't seen the varieties only available outside of Japan.
The table below will help to identify the individual varieties available in the North America and EU.
Individual variety names are also different between Japan and other countries.
Available varieties differ depending on the country. I haven't seen the varieties only available outside of Japan.
The table below will help to identify the individual varieties available in the North America and EU.
| Registered variety denomination Note1 Year of introduction |
Trading designation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| JapanNote2 | EU | USA and Canada | |
| Sanicomf 1994 |
Angel's Earring ® Compact type PurpleNote3 | Sunangels ® Aloha |
Angel Earrings ® Dainty |
| Sanihanf 1994 |
Angel's Earring ® Amethyst | Sunangels ® Hello |
Angel Earrings ® Cascading |
| Sanisutanfu (CPVO) Sanisutanfu akw3 (USPTO) 1998 |
Angel's Earring ® Moonstone | Sunangels ® Cheerio |
Angel Earrings ® Snowfire |
| Sanihanf arl2 2004 |
Angel's Earring ® Pearl Rose | Sunangels ® Beach |
|
| Sanifdabhoho 2005 |
Sunangels ® White Blossom |
||
| Sanifpeco 2006 |
Angel Earrings ® Petticoat or Preciosa |
||
| Sanifpirave 2007 |
Angel's Earring ® Pink Opal | Angel Earrings ® Mauve | |
| Sanifreho 2007 |
Angel's Earring ® Dual Pearl | Angel Earrings ® Double Red | |
| Sanihoho 2008 |
Angel's Earring ® White Pearl | Angel Earrings ® White | |
Note 2: Refers to the trading designation by Suntory Flowers, except Compact type Purple.
Note 3: Compact type Purple is not available from Suntry, but from the Nishinomiya Plant Reserach Center only.
(Dec. 30, 2009)