About
This free flowering deciduous upright shrub with opposite or whorled dark green leaves, and from summer to autumn produces pendent single flowers with a conspicuous white tube and waxy white sepals and a magenta-purple corolla.
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
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHNeutral, Alkaline, Acid
Soil moistureWell-drained, Moist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
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 unheated greenhouse in containers of peat-free multi-purpose compost in bright indirect light and keep just moist. Can be grown outside in the summer months in sun or part shade, water freely and use a general liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to summer. May be hardy in mild areas or inner city locations. See tender fuchsia cultivation for further information
PruningPruning Group 6. Prune back hard to ground level in early spring if an infestation of Fuchsia Gall Mite is present or if top growth dies during winter, burn cuttings.
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in any season.
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)