About

A vigorous, upright shrub about 60-75cm tall, with lance-shaped long glossy dark green leaves, paler beneath. Single flowers with deep pink sepals and tubes, and purple corollas are borne from summer to autumn and followed by cylindrical, glossy dark purple fruit.

About the genus

Fuchsia can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees, rarely perennials, with opposite or whorled leaves and usually pendent flowers with conspicuous tubular calyx, 4 spreading sepals and 4 erect petals

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH2

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCoastal, City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Cottage and informal garden
Native toS Brazil
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

Care notes

CultivationGrow in a cool or frost-free greenhouse in containers of peat-free multi-purpose compost in bright indirect light and keep just moist. Can be grown outside for the summer in sun or part shade, water freely and use a general liquid fertiliser monthly. See tender fuchsia cultivation for further information
PruningPruning group 6
PropagationPropagate by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, capsid bug, fuchsia gall mite, glasshouse red spider mite and vine weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to fuchsia rust, grey moulds and honey fungus (rarely)