Fuchsia
Fuchsia hybrids and F. magellanica
Fuchsias produce dangling, two-toned flowers like ballerinas from summer to fall. Hardy types grow as shrubs in UK gardens, while tender hybrids fill hanging baskets on both sides of the Atlantic.
Photo: Gold Bernard · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Partial sun
Watering
Moderate
Keep moist but not waterlogged; baskets may need daily water in summer.
Soil
Fertile, moist, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
-10–28 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed weekly with a potassium-rich fertilizer while flowering.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings
Pinch young plants for bushiness; cut hardy types back in spring.
Fuchsias are not toxic, and the berries are edible.
Top Cultivation Tips
Shelter from hot afternoon sun.
Overwinter tender types in a frost-free place.
Attracts hummingbirds in the US.
Hardy F. magellanica makes a UK hedge.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseRust
A fungal disease that forms orange, brown or yellow powdery pustules, mainly on leaf undersides.
How to treat it →PestWhiteflies
Small white flying insects that gather under leaves, sucking sap, spreading viruses and leaving sticky honeydew.
How to treat it →
