Fuchsia: Hardy Fuchsia
Hardy fuchsia is a fan favorite in the shade garden, and the hummingbirds love it too!
Plant care & info
Family: Onagraceae Family (Evening Primrose Family)
Genus: Fuchsia
Origin: South and Central America, with a few species from New Zealand and Tahiti.
Fuchsia enjoy fertile, moist soil with good drainage. They grow in full sun to partial and full shade. Hardiness varies among varieties, with Fuchsia magellanica being the most cold tolerant. A cold winter will knock even the hardy ones to the ground—although they will re-sprout the following spring. A heavy autumn application of mulch with compost helps insulate tender varieties through the winter.
Water regularly the first few years to establish plants. If you would like to create a bushier plant, pinch off the tips as it grows (this will encourage side shoots). To control size and shade, woody structure can be pruned in spring as new growth emerges. Many varieties can grow into large shrubs if left unpruned.
Stressed plants may be prone to powdery mildew, aphids, whitefly, spider mites or thrips. In early spring, slugs or root weevil may cause damage. If air circulation is poor, botrytis mold may occur in cooler months. Rust, a fungal disease, may appear as raised orange bumps.
By seed, but more commonly by cuttings from new growth.
Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
These pendulous lovelies are represented in a genus of over 100 species of small shrubs. Their growing habits are categorized by being prostrate, trailing, upright lax (fountain), and upright. Leaves can be opposite, alternate, or whorled.
Flowers are usually borne in hanging, bi-colored clusters along the tips. Flower color is often white, pink, red, or purple—although greens, peaches and yellows are beginning to appear around the nursery as well. When talking about fuchsia flowers, the terms sepal, tube, and corolla are often used. The sepal and tube are the exterior portions, and the corolla is the interior. Spent flowers turn into an edible fruit, with some describing the flavor as a grape spiced with black pepper.
Highlights of these beauties include:
- Extreme easy care once established.
- Attract humming birds like you wouldn’t believe!
- Long blooming June to frost.
- There are over 2,000 cultivars to choose from!
Fuchsias are versatile and combine well with Hostas, bleeding heart, sweet box and ferns. They are also wonderful container plants either working solo or in a combination. A little known fact is most hardy fuchsias can tolerate full sun with some extra water.
For the creme de la creme display of fuchsias, visit us in August when the Northwest Fuchsia Society holds the annual Fuchsia show at our Stark location.
