Hardy fuchsias: care, pruning & repotting

Fuchsias are mostly frost-sensitive summer bloomers, but some varieties are hardy – how can this be and how do you care for hardy fuchsias?

As the impressive flowers with their unusual colour combinations suggest, fuchsias are by no means native plants. With their tropical to subtropical origins, they are usually very sensitive to the cold winter temperatures in this country. Why this is not always entirely true and how best to deal with hardy fuchsias is shown below.

Hardy fuchsias: how is it possible?

Although fuchsias do not have to fear frosts in their natural environment and have therefore not developed a tolerance, there are some varieties that nevertheless do not immediately wilt in the cold. These are species that are often very close to the wild forms. Often, they are hybrids that have been bred specifically for cold tolerance.

Hardy fuchsia varieties

The following varieties are also suitable for wintering outdoors in this country:

Alice Hoffmann

• Red and white flower
• Standing growth
• Height from 30 – 60 cm

Caledonia

• Red flowers
• Standing growth
• Height from 50 – 60 cm

Cardinal Farges

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

Delicate Purple

• Pink purple flower
• Hanging growth habit
• Simple flowers

Dollar Princess

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

Preparing hardy fuchsias for the winter

Despite their winter hardiness, wintering hardy fuchsias also have some rules that you must follow. Otherwise, your fuchsia may give up the ghost during the cold season, despite the designation “hardy”. Pay attention to the following points.

Cutting hardy fuchsias

Annual pruning is an important way of protecting the fuchsia during the winter and preparing it for the next year. This is because fuchsias need to be pruned every year for lush flowering, so that fresh shoots are formed. Therefore, cut back about a third of the plant in winter, so that the fuchsia is nice and compact for the winter.

Do you have to cover hardy fuchsias?

Whether your hardy fuchsia winters in a container or outdoors, it is also essential to protect it from the cold. For this purpose, use insulating material such as leaves, brushwood and straw. In addition, it has proven useful to mound the plants with soil in the autumn. If you want to be on the safe side, the use of protective garden fleece is also highly recommended.

Prepare your fuchsia for winter as follows:

• Prune in autumn (about one third)
• Winter protection from leaves, brushwood and straw
• For insulation, also heap on garden fleece and soil

Repotting hardy fuchsias: how often and when?

Hardy fuchsias cultivated in tubs and pots, like their non-hardy counterparts, require a change of substrate from time to time. In addition, with healthy growth, after a certain time the pot becomes too small and repotting brings new space for the roots. Ideally, repot your fuchsia once a year. The best time for this is spring, this will give the plant enough time during the summer to grow new roots.

For more information on how to properly prune plants – even in winter – see our special article on pruning fuchsias.