Fuchsia Plant Care Guide
How to Grow a Fuchsia Plant
A gardening care guide for the fuchsia plant, known by gardeners as one of the most difficult flowers to grow, is provided for you by gardening experts. The romantic, vibrant colored fuchsia plant has lovely blossoms that dangle beautifully from flower pots, hanging baskets, or over the soil in a flower garden. If your not familiar with the fuchsia plant, let me teach you all you need to know about this beautiful perennial plant. The fuchsia flower is a prolific bloomer all summer long and did you know that it can even be grown indoors with proper care?
photo credit: Amazon.com
Facts About the Fuchsia Plant - Did You Know?
What You Should Know About Fuchsia
How did this unique flower get its name? The fuchsia plant is named after Leonhard Fuchs, a German doctor who lived in the early 1500's. Where did they come from? Almost all the fuchsia varieties we know of today come from South and Central America, New Zealand, and Tahit.
Originally, nearly 100 varieties of fuchsia were known, but they have been hybridized so much that today there are actually countless varieties on the market.
Fuchsias are low growing, bush or sometimes tree-like plants. We still cultivate many varieties as indoor plants, and one of them is so hardy that it can grow in the winter (in the South). Most of the cultivated Fuchsia varieties are hybrids which may be low, rather droopy flowering plants, semi-tall trees or shrub-like plants. People often prop them up with support sticks or a trellis to allow the beautiful flowers to hang freely from the leaf crown that radiates from a slender stem.
What I love most about the fuchsia is that it is so very rich in color. What makes this it this color? The eyecatching colorfulness of the fuchsia flower is due to the fact that the sepals, leaf lobes and petals, are all richly colored.
Fuchsias are the most beautiful when kept in rather cool conditions in half-shade. Too much warmth and sunshine leads to rapid flower loss and severe evaporation from leaves and stems. Always make sure that the fuchsia plant gets the water it needs during the growth period.
All varieties of fuchsia do require special care, but they will reward all your hard earned efforts by forming lovely new flower buds on the tips of their stems for you to admire.
Fuchsia Plants
It's always easier to buy an already established plant, but you can plant from seed when growing a hardy fuchsia if you like. This is a truly wonderful drought tolerant 4-9 foot perennial plant and offers striking pink and purple hanging blooms. It is hardy to zone 6a-9b and is frost tender. It is in flower and flowers from mid summer through mid Fall.
Hardy Fuchsia Plant - Fuchsia Plant Buying Tips
What to Look For and When to Buy Fuschia
Fuchsia plants are usually best purchased in the early Spring, before all the pretty flowers burst forth from their buds.
When purchasing, make sure all the parts of the plant are fresh and juicy. Also, be sure and check for bugs, pests, and disease. Do make sure that the stems of any existing flowers that may have already bloomed are not flaccid, too.
If you buy your plants online or from a garden magazine, be sure and check that the retailer offers a refund if the plant arrives damaged or diseased.
Fuchsia Plant Guide
The featured gardening book offers you a step by step guide on how to grow the fuchsia plant successfully. You'll find lots of beautiful photographs, many different varieties, and the most hardy type to grow in your flower garden or in a hanging basket. You'll always be able to refer back to this fuchsia care manual for more gardening tips, too.
Fuchsia Plant Colors and Scents
It's hard to believe that such a pretty flower like the fuchsia plant has a weak fragrance. Fortunately, the stunning flowers make up for what it's lacking in the scent department and come in almost every beautiful, color shade imaginable, (except a true blue). My favorite is the beautiful pink fuchsia color. What's yours? Tell us in the guest book below.
PS All fuchsia plants bloom from the months of May through September.
How to Water and Feed Fuchsia Plants
Fuchsia requires regular watering, and liquid plant food should be added to the water during the growth period, (April through September).
Fuchsia is an easy plant to grow as long as they are given a light, cool spot and are kept shielded from the blazing sunshine.
Liquid Plant Food for Fuchsia
It's very important to feed your fuchsia as directed. I find that Miracle-Gro works really well.
Fuchsia Flower
Fuchsia flowers make lovely gifts for any occasion!
Fuchsia Lifespan, Size and Growth Rate
Fuchsias can last for many years if given a period of stable conditions before planting or placing them among other plants in your garden.
Fuchsia comes in almost every size and shape. Some of them can remain outdoors all year round, but most of them are cultivated as house plants or for re-planting outdoors in summer only.
Light and Temperature for Fuchsia Plants
Fuchsias grow most beautifully in half-shade. Indoors, it prefers a west facing window. The temperature should suit the amount of light, which is moderate in summer and cool in winter.
How to Prune a Fuchsia Plant
All Fuchsia varieties need pruning or pinching back to attain an attractive shape. Growth of the fuchsia plant is naturally bushy, and the plant may turn out leggy. However, it is easy to propagate the Fuchsia by pinching back ungainly shoots throughout the summer. If you forget, winter pruning is still possible.
Create a Small Fuchsia Tree
To Create a fuchsia plant with a tall stem, just remove all the side shoots and branches until the desired trunk height is achieved. The hanging varieties in particular are very attractive as tall stemmed plants or trees.
Now pinch back the crown by removing unwanted shoots throughout the summer (or, by winter pruning) to ensure the desired bush shape.
Tying may be necessary. Tying can prove as important as pruning. Many of these plants flower so profusely that the stems are almost overwhelmed. Pruning doesn't help in such cases, but a stick to support the plant in this period is often indispensable.
Success Rate with Fuchsias
What's Your Success Rate Growing Fuchsia?
Rejuvinating Fuchsia
How to prune and bring these plants back to life for another season.
Fuchsia for the Garden
Hardy Red Fuchsia makes a nice addition to your garden. It puts on an unbelievable display of red pendant flowers that attract hummingbirds from early summer to mid-fall. These beautiful, extremely ornamental plants can grow up to six feet tall! Best of all, this one is completely cold hardy. Hardy Red Fuchsia is evergreen in southern climates and deciduous in colder parts of the country. Rabbit don't like them either. This hardy plant does well in full sun to partial shade. In zones 3, 4 and 5 it needs to be heavily mulched.
Hanging Baskets Ideal for Fuchsias
The featured hanging basket will be ideal for displaying your fuchsia plant at eye level so it can admired better. You can even opt for a self watering planter, which allows you to fill the reservoir with water and the plants will absorb only the amount of water necessary depending on environmental conditions.
Do You Like Fuchsias?
Hello,
I live in Colorado and my fuchsia does great outside durring the summer. I would like to try to bring it inside this winter and see if I can keep it alive and healthy. I don't have a clue about the trimming, feeding or its light needs. Help please.
Vera vhamilto@hach.com
Great info! just like all your other plant lenses. 5* fav
Thanks for the info. I really could have used this a few days ago, as I received a fuchsia for Mother's Day and it's nearly dead today. I'm trying to save it. Hope your tips do the trick.
I've never grown fuchsia but it's certainly beautiful! You lens is full of good info., maybe now is the time for me to give this plant a try.
Beautiful lens. The fuchsia flower is awesome. We would get them every spring. Thank-you for all the tips.
Nice lens. Love the plant but never tried to grow them. I didn't know there were so many different colors. I have given you five stars and a lensroll to my lens: best online reference. Hope you will visit.
My fuschia seems to be dying...does regular watering mean the soil should always be moist? I'm not sure if I"m over or underwatering the poor plant!
Really good read :) 5 Stars
HELP!!! I just love my Fuchsia plant and have purchased several for friends and relatives. All of the purchased plant owners are looking to me for growing advise and all of our fuchsias are dying....I have had mine on my covered, screened in patio on the East side of house. I water frequently and it gets only minimal morning direct sunlight. Lately, for last 2 weeks, we have had temps. in the high 90's to low 100's. I have watered more frequently, but left it in same location. The fuchsia's blooming has stopped and leaves are turning brown first, then yellow and dropping. What's going on and what can I do to save them? Thank you for this forum and thanks in advance for any advise given!!
Water --water --water When you think you've given a potted type too much---water again
I am in S Tulsa and mine are not doing well at all. I will try to add fertilizer but mine appear to be dying as well.[ must be the heat.
in reply to Oklahoma summer]
I just inherited a beautiful fuchsia from my Grandmother who recently passed away. I love this plant and want it to thrive as it did at her home for many years. I live in N. California where it is regularly in the 100's in the summer and currently have it in the back yard hanging from a tree that shades it from the hot sun and water it daily. After reading this blog I will start feeding it regularly, but am concerned about it's current condition. It was at my dad's house before it made it to my house and I don't think he watered it enough because the leaves are slightly yellow and it is pretty leggy. I fed it once last week with Miracle grow and it is starting to send out some new growth. It sounds like maybe it needs to be trimmed back to stop it from getting more leggy.
Are there any other hints you can give me to help me keep this plant for many years to come? It holds such special meaning and I would hate to lose it.
- Author
[in reply to rgeyer] Considering that this plant has such great sentimental meaning to you, I would highly recommend purchasing a book from Amazon on Fuchsia plant care. Any of the featured books will offer you the very best advice for fuchsia plant care in your specific area. As stated, fuchsias are the most beautiful when kept in rather cool conditions in half-shade. Too much warmth and sunshine leads to rapid flower loss and severe evaporation from leaves and stems. I worry that your fuchsia might be getting too much heat. Anyway, please keep me informed of the health of your most precious fuchsia plant.
[in reply to ClassyGals] Thanks!! I will get a book specifically for fuchsias. This plant has been living in Chico, CA for about 7 years which is even hotter than where I am, so I am hoping that it is used to the heat. It is already starting to look better than it did a few weeks ago.
hello, about 1 month ago i bought a fuchsia plant. at the time i really didn't know it was. I live in the azores, and when i bought it it had no tag and the lady gave me the name of it in portuguese and just now did i figure out it was a fuchsia...well the other morning i went out to water it and it looked awful, it went from nice to dried overnight. The previous days had been real hot and very very sunny. I just read that they do not do well in that environment. Well yesterday i brought it inside and I'm hoping it will bounce back, but it doesn't look any better today. Can someone help, I'm really new to all this...Thanks
I love the color and the plant looks gorgeous!
[in reply to Philp] My daughter gave me a fushia for mothers day this year, I live in the North, Michigan. She wanted me to put it in the front of my house and hang it. Well the front of my house was full sun, I thought I had killed it, but I bought it in the house and left it in the dark and kept it watered. It takes awhile but it came back slowly. Now I only give it an hour of morning sun and then take it back in the shade, you have to keep it watered, don't let it dry out. It is Sept now and I have a full fushia! Now I am going to bring it in the house and see If I can keep it the whole winter. Good Luck with yours!
I have a beautiful fushia and I noticed when the flower dropped, the green part at the top didn't drop, Well I left it there and now it is big and I would like to know if it is a seed?
Hi. I have a chile fucshia (I hope that's what its called). The flowers look like a chile before they open. I live in minneapolis, and it is starting to get cold outside. Should I leave it out for the daytime and bring it in for the night? I brought it in last week and it lost all flowers and its starting to look unhealthy. It did VERY well outside, every couple days there were many new buds. Anyone know what to do? my email is willi828@gmail.com
This is an absolutely beautiful lens. Exquisite pictures, great content. Thanks for sharing. 5*****
[in reply to lizabethjo] hi i have the same question , i thought it almost resembled a fruit of some sort because the inside was slightly fleshy. can contact me at nssbsimpson@hotmail.com. thanx
Excellent lens! Me, though--I've had three fuscia plants but never had very good luck with them. I tried everything, but they just seemed to give up all of a sudden after months of looking just fine. They're one of the few houseplants I've not done well with, which was disappointing, because they are so pretty.
I had a roommate who was passionate about her fuchsia plants, but I've never grown one myself. Maybe I'll try one this year. They really are beautiful.
I really love fuchsia plants, hard to grow here in the deep south. However while in the Washington state I was employed at a wholesale nursery there, we grew the most beautiful hanging basket fuschia's there. Nice lens, thanks for sharing this.
Blessed by a SquidAngel :)
Beautiful fuchsia plants and a great lens on how to take care of them. Well crafted and laid out along with valuable information.
The buds on my fuchsia plant always seem to turn brown and not mature into the beautiful flowers. They are watered daily and I just don't know what seems to be wrong with them.
Do you have any advice?
Love fuschias. Good tribute lens to this wonderful flower. *-*Blessed*-* and featured on Sprinkled with Stardust - Flowers
I have a hanging basket fuchsia and it has developed some red berry-like buds in place of the blooms. It has attracted a ton of flies because of these berries. Is this normal?
Fuchsia blooms look beautiful on bushes, they are colorful sight during blooming season. Beautiful lens on delicate Fuchsia.
Nicely done & great resource. ***Angel blessed*** and featured on "My Life with Angel Wings" lens ... :)
Yes I do like Fuchsias. Great lens with useful info. Thanks for sharing.
I love fuchsia. I used to have them hanging on my porch every summer. Now I live in the desert so I'll have to give a go at growing them indoors.
I do now!!!! I didn't even realize that the fuchsia was a plant and not just a color DUH!!!!!
Another fantastic lens. I have always loved fuschias even as a small girl. I used to love taking cuttings and making new plants. I have also included your lens as a featured lens on my 3rd wedding anniversary gifts lens (I think this is the second lens of your I have made a feature). As the traditional flower for the 3rd year is a fuschia your lens will make an excellent addition to my lens. Thank you.
@anonymous: Maybe too much hot sun, move them to a shady cool aread and keep fertilising and watering.
I love Fuchsias. I have a couple and they look absolutely gorgeous. :)
great blog about these wonderful plants, I buy all mine from Gardening Express
Beautiful! Love fuchsias, I have one in my front garden
I love fuchsias and you show some varieties that I've not seen before. My sister tried something new this year and took her fuchsias in before the first frost and has been enjoying them all winter, what a savings to not have to replace them every year. You have put together and excellent care guide here.
Adore Fuchsias,they grow well here in Australia.Very good information here.
Love them. You images are great and thanks for the tips!
the flowers are so pretty.
I've had a fuschia plant at home few years ago, sadly, it died faster than it takes time to tell it... :(
Blessed by a passing angel who's crazy about gardening.
I've had great luck with Fuchsias in hanging baskets, but they are quite messy so I've stopped hanging them on my patio because I just don't have the time to pick up the falling flowers everyday. Put them out under shade trees in the yard where the mess can fall and they've been great. Great pics!
beautiful flowers shown to me, thanks
i love fuchsias,
but after i purchase one , about a month later they tend to start to droop and not
blossom ?? i water and fertlize but to no avail ???
any suggestions
- Author
@anonymous: You might be over watering them. If after following my suggestions on fuchsia plant care, you still have no success you might want to purchase one of the fuchsia care guide books featured.
I've always had great success from fuschia cuttings - just cut a stem off in summer and put in water for a few days then plant in soil - hey presto, they seem to thrive. Lovely lens by the way.
Love your lens!
I had a beautiful fuschsia last year, however due to our harsh winter (UK) it justde died on me! Thanks for s few of your suggestions here! these are great.
This color would be a great addition to our garden, thanks for the idea! :)
I LOVE fuchsias and my new home has about 8 different ones -- from ones with tiny flowers to large flowers. They are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I learned a lot about caring for them. Blessed. Bear hugs, Frankster
I have never grown one, but I think I might now. Nice lens.
As a little girl my friend mother had a big collection and they would take me to a big fuchsia nursery for "windowing shopping". I love those plants. My yard is more suited for succulents.
I love these but I have been afraid to try my luck with them. You make it sound easy! Think I will try it! Thank you
Wow, I had completely forgotten about fuchsias. They used to be really popular back home but I seldom see them where we live now.
I actually love Fuchsia Plants! Not sure why I have never tried to grow one - think maybe I will now. Nice job.
I love Fuchsia! It's a great addition to any garden.
Great variety to choose from and I particularly like the tips that you throw out when purchasing the plants. Thank you for the information.
Cheers,
Homerepellent
Love them! One of the best porch plants, but I can't keep them alive over winter .
Lovely! Just adore fuchsias.
My mother in law has them hanging around the outside of her house. dozens of colors and varieties. Very pretty plants. Nice lens (squid angel blessed)
i like them but it seems they don't like me, your lens is very helpful
One of God's most beautiful creations! But they take special care, so glad you shared this. I nearly cry when I see some of these in garden centers in stores like Walmart. I've seen them with those gorgeous blooms actually laying on the hot concrete. Espec appreciate the fuchsia rejuvenation section here. Best wishes
I love fuchsia, used to have a lot before. When spring comes, I will get some again. Then, I will be back to check out your good advice here.
This is my introduction to the fuchsia plant. So beautiful. I'd love to grow some of these for my hummingbirds. Thank you for making me aware of this lovely flower.
I've got a perfect spot on my back deck where I hang a Fuchsia plant every spring, and the hummingbirds just love it!
They are truly stunning and I love the way they hang from the stems - very decorative. Great lens and very informative!
You know, I have always loved the color of fuchsia, but never realized this was a plant too? Double whammy! I must try to grow them.
I have the red fuchsia for years and doing well.
I do! I do! The colors are so splendid. And they are perfect for container gardening, which is mostly what I do.
Yes, the flower's design is so interesting and great colors of course.
Fuchsias are so gorgeous and the hummingbirds like them too!
I'm coaxing two beautiful fuschia plants into small trees right now. They've been doing beautifully in my shady yard, and the flowers couldn't be prettier!
I love fuchsia, they love shade. I have lost some, but they are easy to grow from cuttings in New Zealand.
Thanks for sharing. Blessed
I Love fucshia's they always remind me of a summer's day!
yes the color is such pretty cool thing and it's add color into my life, I will plant like this too!
Lovely flowers, such a variety.
They look like little ballerinas in their tutus!
fuchsia, my favorite color, would love to have one of these.
The fucshia is one of my favorites, great lens and very informative
I really love fuchsias!! I think they just add that perfect touch to andb flower garden
Stopping by again to look at this pretty lens. Fuchsia are hearty plants with beautiful flowers. I really should get some for myself this year! :)
I think they are very beautiful. After this wonderful lens, maybe I can get some to grow pretty again. Very helpful, thanks!
I like you beautiful lens.
I like Fuchsias, I think they're one of the best choice for a flower garden.
These are so pretty! Thanks for sharing, I loved the photos.
Yes I do...Just viewed a video and the looks of the plant ... looks like mine..
dead !!!....I am going to cut them back and see what happens..
Thanks for the viewing...
Received a plant for Mothers Day...Million Kisses ??? Fuchsia
Any advice ??
Very nice post well done!
Amazing lens, thumbs up!
Yes My best flower is Fuchsais
Yes, i really like the fuchsais n my best flower is fuchsias
I absolutely love Fuchsia plants. They are so beautiful and hope with all my heart that I am successful in having them stay as beautiful in keeping their beauty inside.
I absolutely love these beautiful plants. I have never had much success growing them inside but now see that I was doing it the wrong way and hope that I will grow them them the right way this time. God was sure in a good mood when he made this gorgeous plant.
I love Fuchsias! It was the flower we used at our wedding as well as our colors, pink and purple! Great lens!!!
Fuchsias are my favorite plant. It's a shame that garden centres in France focus so strongly on geraniums. I'm bucking the trend and get most of my plants online. People love the show of beautiful plants in front of my house!
Yes I love Fuchsias. Really nice and colorful.
I didn't know what a fuchsia plant was until now but I recognize them. They are gorgeous. Now I know how to care for them if I'm ever so lucky to come across them. Your lens was so well written.
Fuchsias are such beautiful flowers. I had no idea there were so many different types! This is a lovely lens.
The Fucshias are beautiful. The colors are so vibrant and eye-catching.
Great Lens! Youâve motivated me to start my own project! Thanks ever so much! Iâm definitely going to recommend your Lens to my friends!
Love fuchsias. Blessed.
Fuchsia is gorgeous, and I would love to try and grow it. Thank you!
Beautiful flowers to grow in hanging baskets on a porch. I've grown them before and I love their fresh pretty colors. Thanks for sharing. Blessed
Useful tips about Fuchsia Plants. Thanks a lot.
I love fuchsias! I had a beautiful plant but it got too cold for it in the winter. I should have brought it in the house. I'll have to try again. Your lovely photos are very inspiring.
I love fuchsia plants. I had one hanging off a tree at my old house and it did great. It had filtered light. The trick was keeping the soil moist.
Gracious flowers. Nice lens.
Fuschias are one of my favourite plant, mainly because of their beautiful flowers and variety.
Yes they are fabulous!
Got a hanging basket for Mothers Day two years ago and I love it. Still growing great. Useful tips on growing.
I love this plant and managed to grow one in my back yard in the foggy Richmond district of San Francisco. We have since moved to a hotter area, and, somehow, I haven't been able to get one to survive! Thanks so much for all these great tips.
So nice flowers. Thx for tips.
I love fuchsias, great information.
My new fuchsias in my hanging baskets have not flowered yet any ideas.
This is a very good and informative lens. I have always loved the hanging plants overflowing with colours.
i do, but mine dried out while on vacation. :(
Great tips! Thanks
Wonderful tip! I want to grow more flowers and plants around my chicken coops. Feel free to visit my lens.
I'm planning some backyard plants and these really are beautiful. They weren't on my to-do list but I think it is time to pencil them in. Thanks!
Sorry if I end up with double comments. I'm not sure my other comment took. I just love these. We're about to add some color to our backyard and I think I will add these to our list. Thank you and blessed!
Fuchsia are lovely! Thanks for all of the great tips!
Our fuchsia is lovely and it pretty much seems to take care of itself. It has gorgeous pink blooms.
I love fuchsias! We are very lucky to have them growing easily in our garden, we just can't put them in baskets, they don't do as well for us. Thank you for sharing! Greetings from 'the land of eternal spring'!
I think they are fabulous.
love our posy and fuchsia
Thanks for the tips on taking care of Beautiful Fuchsia Plants
I love fuchsias. The colors are so vibrant. Tough to spell though!
The fragrance is what I like.
Thanks for sharing this fuchsia plant care guide and will be back to read more.
Oh, Fuchsias ... my grandmother used to have beautiful Fuchsias. I was often squeezing unopened flowers in order to open more quickly (besides I thought that was fun) and she was really angry. This flowers are really precious to me because of my grandmother. Really adorable lens, I enjoyed reading it..
I read, and it was good...
LOVE them! They are hard to grow in NM though. Beautiful flowers :-)
Yes. They are beautiful flowers.
I love them. This is a wonderful guide.
beautiful color.
I like them, but unfortunately, my two plants died in our long and very hot Summer this year.
Perhaps I'll get another one and plant it this Autumn, as they are a very pretty plant.
I have a very special fuchsia, several years ago we went to Devon, looking for the graves of my great great great grandparents. Unfortunately the graves have been lost along with the burial plot records. Disappointed we were leaving when I spotted a beautiful example of Fuchsia Hawkeshead Naughty me took a cutting and now all the family have a treasure a plant from this cutting to remind us of the beautiful setting where our ancestors lay
I love Fuchsias... at first it was challenge to learn to actually grow them successfully. Once I got that down, I love them hanging all around the front porch.
This is a plant that I have always admired, but haven't attempted to grow it due to growing conditions. This info was useful. I appreciate it.
love the hanging fuschia...have always had one...my son gifts me one for Mothers day each year...haven't had good luck trying to winter over in MI...plus I am gone south during wks and can't seem to depend on others...just not fair to expect someone to care for plants at the house...replace each yr...Bobbi
Fushsias are very pretty shrubs they make me think of childhood, there were lots of them in my neighborhood.
fuchsias are a part of my whole life, I love them the flowers are little dancers, thanks for sharing
I'm so glad I stopped by again to look at the beautiful Fuchsias. They remind me of my Mom, because she always has some hanging off the roof of her back porch in the summer. They are some of the prettiest flowering plants in my honest opinion. :)
This is our first year with Fuchaias. We found a small Fuchia @ a little out of the way nursery and fell in love at first site.They did not have a marker identifying what kind of plant it was. So we had to do a little research to figure it out. When I was explaining the bloom I told folks that it started out like a ball then turned inside out and looks like a flower firework. I am totally smitten with the Fushia ! Now I have gotten 3 different varieties and will continue to grow our collection !
can i plant a fucshia cutting in a terrarium
Just found this site. Am a Master Gardener's daughter...came into actually gardening for myself late in life-I'm 61!! Mom still at it-aged 82.
Learning so much from her. She was a display garden for the Hemoracalis Society for many years. Gardening "Beyond her means", lol. Meaning I am her garden girl slave!! But am absorbing tons of wisdom from her.
Looked up Fuschia for my neighbor...with no experience. A very consice and fairly easy-to-comprehend guide. Thanks very much :-)
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