About
Fuchsia excorticata, the New Zealand tree fuchsia, is a large, tender, deciduous shrub or small tree reaching up to 12 m in ideal conditions, with dark-green foliage, attractive pale-brown, peeling, ornamental bark when mature and yellow and violet-purple flowers from summer through autumn. A magnificent specimen for a frost-free garden or large greenhouse.
About the genus
Fuchsia are deciduous or evergreen shrubs, trees and occasionally perennials with opposite or whorled leaves and usually pendent flowers with a conspicuous tubular calyx, four spreading sepals and four erect petals in a wide range of colours. They flower prolifically from summer to autumn and range from frost-hardy border plants to tender species for heated glasshouses.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Trees, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitBushy, Columnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height8-12 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesSub-tropical
ToxicityAlthough Fuchsia berries are edible, most are not particularly tasty and are sparsely produced on plants. Fuchsia plants are generally grown as an ornamental and not for fruit crops within the UK 7484,fuchsia-gehrigeri,Fuchsia gehrigeri,,Fuchsia gehrigeri is a South American Fuchsia species producing the characteristic pendent
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a cool or frost-free greenhouse in a container of peat-free multi-purpose compost in bright indirect light and keep just moist. Water freely and use a general liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to summer. Plants of a managable size can be placed outdoors in the summer months. See tender fuchsia cultivation for further information
PruningPruning group 6; may need restrictive pruning under glass
PropagationPropagate by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, capsid bug, fuchsia gall mite, fuchsia flea beetle, glasshouse red spider mite and vine weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to fuchsia rust, grey moulds and honey fungus (rarely)