Fuchsia × hybrida

hybrid fuchsia

Onagraceae

Garden origin; parent species from South and Central America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Fuchsia x hybrida is a group of tender deciduous to semi-evergreen shrubs bred for their pendent flowers, reaching 1–3 feet (30–90 cm) tall and wide as bedding plants, with some trained taller or trailing. The hybrids descend from several South and Central American Fuchsia spp. species. Oval to lance-shaped green leaves 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) long line arching or trailing stems. The hanging flowers have four swept-back sepals above four shorter petals that form a skirt, usually in contrasting colors, with long stamens and a style projecting below. Common combinations pair red, pink, purple, or white sepals with purple, blue, pink, or white petals. Flowering runs through summer and fall in cool, moist, partly shaded conditions, and slows or stops in heat and drought. The flowers draw hummingbirds, and small dark edible berries may follow. Plants are tender, with most cultivars damaged below about 30°F (−1°C), and are grown as annuals, overwintered indoors, or kept as houseplants in cold regions. Hot, dry, or sunny sites cause bud drop and leaf scorch.

Native Range

Fuchsia x hybrida is a group of garden hybrids with no wild range, bred mainly from Fuchsia spp. species native to the cool, humid highlands of South and Central America. The parent species grow in mountain forests and along streams. The hybrids are propagated from cuttings to keep each cultivar uniform.

Suggested Uses

Grown in hanging baskets, containers, and shaded borders for summer and fall color, spaced 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) apart. Trailing cultivars spill from baskets and window boxes, while upright ones are trained as standards. The flowers draw hummingbirds to shaded patios and entryways.

How to Identify

Pendent flowers with four swept-back sepals over a skirt of four petals, usually in two contrasting colors, identify the hybrid fuchsias. Long stamens hang below the flower. Arching or trailing stems with paired oval leaves and the hanging two-tone flowers separate these from upright-flowered relatives.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering runs from late spring through fall, heaviest in the cool weather of early summer and again in autumn. The pendent flowers open in succession along the stems over many weeks. Hummingbirds visit the tubular flowers and pollinate them. Bloom slows in summer heat and resumes as temperatures fall.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

red, pink, purple, and white bicolors

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Fuchsia x hybrida grows in part shade with shelter from hot afternoon sun, in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter at pH 6.0–7.0. Even moisture is needed, as drying out causes bud and flower drop, while waterlogged soil rots the roots. The plants are tender, hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9–11, and are grown as annuals, overwintered as dormant plants, or kept as houseplants elsewhere. Regular feeding through the growing season supports continuous bloom in containers. Cool nights and high humidity favor flowering, so bloom is poor in hot, dry climates. Whitefly and spider mites are common pests under cover.

Pruning

Pinching the stem tips of young plants several times in spring produces bushy, well-branched growth and more flowers. A hard cutback to a low framework in late winter, before new growth starts, renews overwintered plants. Removing the small berries that form keeps plants flowering longer.

Pruning Schedule

winter