Fuchsias are popular summer bloomers. To enjoy a flowering fuchsia, you need to know its planting and care needs.
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 by no means native, but comes from the mountainous regions of South and Central America and was brought to Europe in the 18th century. Due to this circumstance, some tips are required when cultivating the flowering plant. We present everything about the fuchsia - from the most popular species to planting and care.
Fuchsias: characteristics and origin
The fuchsia is a genus that includes a total of over 100 different species that are native to large areas of South America and also to the Pacific region. The plant was named after the German physician and botanist Leonhart Fuchs, which is how it got its unusual name. The fuchsia has become particularly popular thanks to its striking flowers, which present their flower stalks for all pollinators. You can get an overview of the most beautiful fuchsia varieties here.
Fuchsia color: what colors are there?
What makes the fuchsia so popular as an ornamental plant in gardens is its almost unbelievable variety of flowers. The thousands of varieties ensure a variety that is second to none and literally covers all color combinations. Sepals and petals are usually different colors, ranging from white, yellow, red, pink, purple to blue - including everything in between.
Hanging or standing fuchsias?
When buying a fuchsia, the question inevitably arises: should you choose a hanging variety or should you choose a standing one? The answer to this depends on one hand on personal taste, on the other hand also on the destination. Hanging fuchsia, for example, are particularly suitablefor a place in hanging pots where the branches can easily reach down a bit. Standing specimens do best in pots on the balcony or terrace, hardy fuchsias also do well directly in the bed.
Are fuchsias poisonous?
The rumor keeps circulating 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 consuming large amounts can lead to acute stomach and intestinal problems and the fruit should therefore be consumed with caution.
Fuchsias: popular species, varieties and wild forms
The variety of fuchsias is immense and is constantly increasing through breeding. Deciding which type and variety you want to grow for your own garden is therefore anything but easy. We present the most important types and varieties on the market for you:
Popular fuchsia species
- Fuchsia magellanica: Probably the best-known fuchsia species; also known as scarlet fuchsia; forms the basis for many hybrids in breeding; 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 inflorescences.
Fuchsia varieties standing
Leverkusen
- Pink flowering variety
- Suitable for the pot
- Growth up to 50 cm
- Belongs to species Fuchsia triphylla
Shadow Dancer
- Available in different colors (Pink/Red-White/Red-Pink/White-Purple)
- Suitable for the pot
- Bushy growth up to 40 cm
- Semi-shady to shady location
Mary
- Red Flower Color
- Long Flowering Period
- 30 to 60 cm in height
Maximums
- Showy flower with pink sepals and purple petals
- Heavy branching
- Semi-shady location
Hanging fuchsia varieties
Annabel
- White-pink double flowers
- Suitable for outdoor use
- Shady location
Pangea
- Orange-red blossom
- Not hardy
- Growth up to 50 cm
Laurie
- Pink Flower Color
- Strong growth
- Semi-shady location
Fuchsia Varieties: Hardy Fuchsia Varieties
Delicate Purple
- Pink-purple flower
- Trailing growth habit
- Simple Flowers
Dollar Princess
- Pink-purple flower
- Suitable as a bush or standard tree
- Double flowers
Cardinal Farges
- Red & White Blossom
- Semi-shady 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: Species native to 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 place special demands on their environment. We present everything worth knowing about the location and the right substrate.
Fuchsias: The Right Location
Fuchsias originally come from the mountain forests of the Andes, where they thrive naturally in a partially 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.
Fuchsias when to go outside?
Except for a few varieties, the majority of all fuchsia varieties cannot withstand the frosty conditions in winter in this country. After the purchase, it is therefore crucial when you put your fuchsia outside or when you plant it. The move outside should definitely be done in April at the earliest, as soon as frost is no longer to be expected. In fact, you should not plant outdoors until May.
Fuchsias in pots: Which substrate is the right one?
Fuchsias do not have high demands on the substrate for repotting and planting, so you can confidently use commercially available potting soilTo fall back on. In any case, it should be permeable and rich in nutrients. For reasons of bog protection, the use of peat-free soil is recommended. Such a peat-free organic soil is also our Plantura organic potting soil, which saves up to 60% CO2 compared to conventional soil.
When choosing a location, pay attention to the following criteria:
- Semi-shady location
- Shadow in root area
- In the pot from April outdoors; outdoors from May
- Peat-free potting soil as substrate
Propagate fuchsias yourself: How does it work?
Propagating fuchsias is not a complicated task and every hobby gardener can do it with just a few tricks. The quickest and most effective way to do this is to grow fuchsia cuttings. To do this, do the following:
- In summer, cut off a shoot about 10 cm long from the plant.
- Remove the leaves from the lower end of the shoot and plant at least half of the cutting.
- Use nutrient-poor and well-drained growing substrate such as Plantura Organic Herb & Sowing Soil for cultivation.
- Keep the cutting warm and moist at all times. Direct sunlight should be avoided if possible.
After a short time the cutting will form new roots. It's always worth growing multiple cuttings in parallel to maximize the chances of success.
Caring for fuchsias: important tips and tricks
Fuchsias are essentially non-native ornamental plants in Central Europe - it is therefore not surprising that the care and conditions in their environment are a little different than those of native plants. We present everything you need to know about caring for fuchsias.
Watering fuchsias correctly
As a classic plant from the mountain forests of the tropics, two factors always have the highest priority for fuchsias: lots of water and high humidity. Regular watering is very important for plant he alth, so the roots should never dry out completely. Water your fuchsia daily and spray the foliage from time to time if possible.
Fertilize fuchsias correctly
Nutrient supply is particularly important for fuchsias, so that they can grow well throughout the summer and form lush flowers. When fertilizing applies: The first months afterRepotting should be done without additional fertilizer. Over-fertilization should also be avoided afterwards, as fuchsias are sensitive to excessive amounts and burn the roots quickly. Although liquid fertilizer provides nutrients quickly, improper use often leads to an overdose. Therefore, you should always dose an organic liquid fertilizer such as our Plantura organic flower & balcony fertilizer according to the information on the packaging, so you can rule out over-fertilization.
Pruning Fuchsias
A fuchsia should be skilfully pruned every year to preserve the lush blooms of the tropical plant. Fuchsias always bloom on the young shoots, so cut back the faded shoots every autumn. You don't have to be very careful with this, it is just important that the heavily woody parts of the plant are not cut back too much.
Observe these aspects when caring for fuchsias properly:
- Water regularly
- Spray the plant with water from time to time
- Fertilize regularly, but little; ideally with organic means such as compost
- Pruning back every autumn
Overwintering fuchsias skilfully
An unfortunate characteristic for many hobby gardeners is the strong frost sensitivity of the beloved fuchsia. Except for a few hardy fuchsia varieties, most specimens are therefore cultivated in pots and placed in a frost-free place in winter. Be sure to cut back the bush in the fall and provide a location that meets the following criteria:
- Cool (frost-free, at least 2 °C)
- Dark
- Dry
In spring, overwintered fuchsias can slowly be re-adapted to the light and warmth outside. Hardy specimens in the garden should always be properly covered with straw and leaves as well as a garden fleece for the winter. Nevertheless, the following applies here: Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the plant will come back in a cold winter. Here we show how to best deal with hardy fuchsias.