Fuchsias: expert tips on varieties, planting & care

Fuchsias are popular summer bloomers. To enjoy a flowering fuchsia, you need to know its requirements for planting and care.

With its extravagant flowers, the fuchsia (Fuchsia) is a welcome change in the garden and gives it an exotic flair. The popular evening primrose plant (Onagraceae) is actually not native at all, but originates from the mountainous regions in South and Central America and was brought to Europe in the 18th century. As a result, some advice is required when cultivating the flowering plant. We present everything about the fuchsia – from the most popular species, to planting, to care.

Fuchsia: origin and characteristics

Fuchsia is a genus that includes a total of more than 100 different species, which are native to large areas of South America, as well as sporadically in the Pacific region. The plant was named after the German physician and botanist Leonhart Fuchs, thereby giving it its unusual name. The fuchsia has gained particular popularity due to its striking flowers, which virtually present their flower stalk for all pollinators. You can get an overview of the most beautiful fuchsia varieties here.

Fuchsia colour: What colours are there?

What makes the fuchsia so popular as an ornamental plant in gardens is its sheer diversity in terms of flowering. The thousands of varieties ensure a diversity that is unparalleled and literally covers all colour combinations. Sepals and corollas usually have different colours, ranging from white, yellow, red, pink, purple to blue – including all shades in between.

Hanging or standing fuchsias?

When buying a fuchsia, the question inevitably arises: should you take a hanging variety or go for a standing one? The answer to this depends on personal taste on the one hand, but also on the destination. Hanging fuchsia, for example, are particularly suitable for a place in hanging pots, where the branches can easily reach down a bit. Standing specimens do best in a pot on the balcony or terrace, winter-hardy fuchsias can also go directly in the bed.

Are fuchsias poisonous?

Time and again the rumour circulates that the fuchsia is a poisonous plant. In fact, the exotic plant is classified as non-toxic and the fruits of the fuchsia can even be eaten. On the other hand, it has been shown that consumption of a larger quantity can nevertheless lead to acute stomach and intestinal problems and the fruits should therefore be enjoyed with caution.

Fuchsias: popular species, varieties and wild forms

The variety of fuchsias is immense and continues to increase due to breeding. Therefore, the decision on which species and variety to get for your own garden is far from simple. We present the most important species and varieties in the trade for you:

Popular fuchsia species

• Fuchsia magellanica: Probably the best known species of fuchsia; also known as the hardy fuchsia; forms the basis for many hybrids in cultivation; mostly red sepals and purple petals.
• Fuchsia boliviana: Species from the high mountains of the Andes; long, tubular petals; not frost hardy.
• Fuchsia triphylla: Red flowering species from the Caribbean; distinctive racemose flowerheads.

Standing fuchsia varieties

Leverkusen

• Pink flowering variety
• Suitable for the pot
• Height of growth up to 50 cm
• Belongs to the species Fuchsia triphylla

Shadow Dancer

• Available to buy in different colours (pink/red-white/red-pink/white-purple)
• Suitable for the pot
• Bushy growth up to 40 cm
• Partial shade to shady location

Mary

• Red flower colour
• Long flowering
• 30 to 60 cm height

Maxima

• Striking flower with pink calyx and purple petals
• Strongly branched
• Semi-shade location

Hanging fuchsia varieties

Annabel

• White-pink double flowers
• Suitable for outdoors
• Shady location

Pangea

• Orange red flower
• Not hardy
• Height of growth up to 50 cm

Laurie

• Pink flower colour
• Vigorous
• Semi-shade location

Hardy fuchsia varieties

Delicate Purple

• Pink purple flower
• Hanging growth habit
• Simple flowers

Dollar Princess

• Pink purple flower
• Suitable as a bush or standard
• Double flowers

Cardinal Farges

• Red and white flower
• Semi-shade location
• Single to double flowers

Fuchsia wild forms

• Fuchsia procumbens: Particularly unusual variety from New Zealand; very small, variegated flowers; small, dense growth.
• Fuchsia microphylla: Come from Mexico; small, pink flowers; small leaves.

Planting fuchsias in the garden: location and substrate

Due to their exotic origin in South America, fuchsias are among the plants in the garden that have special requirements for their environment. We tell you everything you need to know about the location and the right substrate.

The right location

Fuchsias originate from the mountain forests of the Andes, where they naturally thrive in a semi-shaded environment. Therefore, make sure that your fuchsia can find similar conditions in your garden. In particular, too much sunlight in the root area can cause problems for the plants.

When do fuchsias go outside?

Except for a few varieties, the majority of all varieties of fuchsia are unable to withstand the frosty conditions in winter in this country. Once you have bought your fuchsia, it is therefore important when you put it outside or plant it. The move outside should certainly take place in April at the earliest, as soon as frosts are no longer expected. In fact, outdoor planting should be done only from May.

Fuchsias in a pot: what is the right substrate?

When repotting and planting substrate fuchsias, in principle, do not have high requirements, so you can safely use standard potting soil. In any case, it should be permeable and rich in nutrients. For reasons of bog protection, the use of peat-free soil is recommended. One such peat-free organic soil is our Plantura Organic Flower Compost, which saves up to 60% CO2 compared to conventional soils.

When selecting a location, pay attention to the following criteria:

• Semi-shade location
• Shade in the root area
• In a pot from April outdoors; outdoors from May
• Peat-free potting soil as substrate

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Propagating fuchsias

Propagating fuchsias is not a complicated undertaking and with a few tricks every amateur gardener can succeed. The fastest and most effective way to do this is to grow fuchsia cuttings. Proceed as follows:

1. In summer, cut off a shoot from the plant about 10 cm long.
2. At the bottom of the shoot, remove the leaves and plant the cutting at least half way up.
3. Use low-nutrient and permeable growing medium such as Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost for growing.
4. Always keep the cutting warm and moist. Direct sunlight should be avoided if possible.

After a short time the cutting will form new roots. It is always worthwhile growing several cuttings at once to maximise the chances of success.

Caring for fuchsias: important tips and tricks

As an ornamental plant, fuchsias are essentially alien to Europe – so it is not surprising that the care and conditions to their environment are a little different from those of native plants. We present everything you need to know about caring for fuchsias.

Watering fuchsias

As a classic plant from the mountain forests of the tropics, two factors are always paramount for fuchsias: plenty of water and high humidity. Regular watering is very important for the health of the plant, so the roots should never dry out completely. Water your fuchsia daily and if possible spray the leaves from time to time.

Fertilising

Nutrient supply is particularly important for fuchsias, so that they can grow well throughout the summer and form a lush flower. The following applies to fertilisation: The first few months after repotting, additional fertiliser should be avoided. Overfertilisation should also be avoided after that, because fuchsias are sensitive to excessive amounts and their roots quickly burn. Liquid fertilisers provide nutrients quickly, but improper use also often leads to overdosing. Therefore, you should always dose a liquid fertiliser such as our Plantura Liquid Flower Food according to the information on the package, to avoid overfertilisation.

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Pruning fuchsias

Skilful pruning of a fuchsia should be carried out every year to maintain the lush flowering of the tropical plant. Fuchsias always bloom on the young shoots, so perform pruning of the faded shoots every fall. You do not need to be very careful about this, it is only important not to cut back the heavily woody parts of the plant too much.

When caring for fuchsias properly, keep these aspects in mind:

• Water regularly
• Spray plant with water from time to time
• Fertilise regularly but little; ideally with organic products such as compost
• Cut back annually in autumn

Overwintering fuchsias

An unfortunate feature for many amateur gardeners is the strong sensitivity to frost of the beloved fuchsia. Except for a few winter-hardy fuchsia varieties, most specimens are therefore cultivated in pots and placed in a frost-free place in winter. In any case, cut back the bush in the autumn and provide a place that meets the following criteria:

• Cool (frost-free, at least 2 °C)
• Dark
• Dry

In the spring, overwintered fuchsias can be slowly readapted to the light and warmth outside. Winter-hardy specimens in the garden should always be neatly covered with straw and leaves, and a garden fleece for wintering. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that the plant will come back during a cold winter. How best to deal with winter-hardy fuchsias is shown here.