About
Fuchsia splendens, the Mexican tree fuchsia, is a deciduous, upright shrub to around 1 m tall, semi-evergreen in mild locations and capable of flowering year-round in warm conditions. Long, pendent, single flowers have a conspicuous pink tube, coral-red sepals with green tips and a green corolla, followed by sausage-shaped purple fruits. A showy and exotic fuchsia for a frost-free garden.
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 typeLoam
Soil pHNeutral, Alkaline, Acid
Soil moistureWell-drained, Moist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous, Semi evergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Native toMexico
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 from spring to summer. See tender fuchsia cultivation for further information
PruningPruning Group 6
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)