Family: Onagraceae

Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, with a few species from New Zealand and Tahiti, the trees and shrubs of this large genus mostly produce wonderfully exotic flow­ers from summer through to late autumn. Usually pendulous, the flowers have an elongated calyx tube, with four reflexed lobes or sepals and four petals, and stamens which frequently protrude beyond the petals. The colourful hybrids of F. fulgens and F. magellanica and their varieties are the most popular and the hybrid flowers can be divided into three classes: single, semi-double and double. These hybrids are either upright or trailing, the latter making a pretty display in hanging baskets. Some fuchsias are grown for their variegated or beautifully coloured leaves rather than their flowers, which are not as showy as those on plants with plain, green foliage. The leaves are simple and alternate, opposite or whorled. The fruit is a berry. Frost-tender fuch­sias are grown in a cool greenhouse or conserva­tory in frost-prone climates, and the hybrids are also used as summer bedding plants.

Species

F. arborescens, tree fuchsia, is a large shrub or small, bushy tree, with fleshy, shiny, dark green foliage. Beautiful clusters of lavenderpink flowers are borne at the ends of the branches through summer.

F. fulgens is a popular, medium-sized shrub with slightly suc­culent stems and large, almost heart-shaped, toothed leaves. A profusion of pendulous, scar-let flowers, with long calyx tubes, appear in terminal clusters.

F. magellanica, ladies' eardrops, zone 6, the hardiest of the species, is a large, evergreen shrub, to 5 m (16 ft). Its pen­dulous flowers have red sepals, short, purplish petals and very prominent stamens. The many varieties available include the dwarf macrostema.

F. procumbens, trailing fuschia, zone 9, is one of the New Zealand natives. It is a prostrate evergreen, with small, heart-shaped, slender-stalked leaves. The small, erect flowers have purple and green, reflexed lobes and red calyx tubes. Bright red berries, up to 2 cm (1 in) in diameter, persist throughout autumn and winter.

F. triphylla is a small shrub with downy leaves, purplish underneath, and terminal clusters of pendulous, brilliant scarlet flowers. Cultivar 'Gartenmeister Bonstedt', a shrubby bush that flowers for much of the year, prefers more sun than the hybrid fuchsias. Many hundreds of hybrids are available in combinations of white, red and purple and various shades of these colours.

Cultivation

Fuchsias are easily propagated from tip cuttings taken from late spring until early autumn. Seed from the ripe berries can be used to propagate the straight species which need a well-drained soil enriched with organic matter and regular water during spring and summer. Feed with blood, fish and bone or slow-release fertilizer in the growing season. Regular tip pruning produces bushy growth which is able to bear more flowers. Hard prune at the end of winter. Cool summers with moist soil and a sheltered position in partial shade provide the best conditions for fuchsias in the garden. Provide a deep winter mulch to protect roots from hard frosts.

Climate

Zone 10 for the following species, unless otherwise indicated.