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Fuchsia
Fuchsia
Fuchsia blooms from June through September.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Fuchsia
Plant it in part shade. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 9–11. Expect it to reach about 1.6 ft tall and 1.3 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Fuchsia
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Fuchsia into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from June to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 9 in February.
Comes in 6 varieties across 3 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Fuchsia
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
Fuchsia dislikes heat and dry air: flowering stops once the average daily temperature climbs above about 76 F. Cool, humid, sheltered spots keep it blooming through summer. per Clemson
Annual or hardy perennial?
Two different groups share the name. Tender basket and florist types grow as annuals in cold zones; hardy Fuchsia magellanica returns each year from mulched roots. Identify yours first. per NC State and Clemson
A hummingbird magnet
The pendant, long-tubular, nectar-rich lantern flowers are a textbook bird-pollinated form. A peer-reviewed study of F. magellanica found a hummingbird its primary pollinator; the flowers also draw bees. per NC State and PLoS ONE
Safe around pets
The ASPCA lists honeysuckle fuchsia as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, and NC State reports the plants non-toxic too. The magellanica berry, though, is inedible to humans. per ASPCA and NC State
Fuchsia gall mite
The most damaging fuchsia-specific pest, this microscopic mite distorts tips and flowers into reddened galls. Chiefly a Pacific-Coast problem: buy clean stock and cut out infested growth. per UC IPM
Balance moisture with airflow
The cool, shaded, moist conditions fuchsia loves are exactly what gray mold and rust need. Pair moisture with strong air circulation and dry foliage: water at the base, mornings. per Clemson and UMass
What pairs well with Fuchsia
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Azalea
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Hellebore
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Bergenia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; pink sits close to red on the wheel.
Solomon's Seal
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; a soft color beside the red.
Camellia
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in midwinter, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it.
Eastern Redbud
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; purple sits close to red on the wheel.
Serviceberry
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; its white flowers settle the red.
Flowering Dogwood
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; its white flowers settle the red.
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