Scientific Name
Fuchsia fulgens Moc. & Sesse ex DC.
Synonym(s)
Ellobium fulgens, Fuchsia racemosa, Spachia fulgens
Common Name(s)
Brilliant Fuchsia
Scientific Classification
Family: Onagraceae
Subfamily: Onagroideae
Tribe: Circaeeae
Genus: Fuchsia
Origin
Fuchsia fulgens is native to Mexico and Central America.
Flower
Color: Pale red
Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall
Description
Fuchsia fulgens is an erect deciduous shrub with large broadly ovate leaves and pendent terminal racemes of flowers. It grows up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall.
The flowers are up to 2 inches (5 cm) long with slender pale red tubes, green sepals, and small red petals. Fruits are oblong to ellipsoid and deep purple.
How to Grow and Care for Fuchsia fulgens
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30°F (-1.1°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Fuchsias make excellent houseplants, in part because they are well adapted to growing in shadier conditions. In general, the more heat and light a Fuchsia gets, the more careful you'll need to be about watering. In some cases, you may need to water every day. To prevent fungal problems and pests, avoid letting your Fuchsia leaves touch the dirt. Even then, whiteflies can be a problem for Fuchsia and should be treated at the first sign of an infestation (look for white webs on the undersides of leaves). When treating for whiteflies, spray the undersides of leaves thoroughly to disrupt their life cycle. To overwinter your Fuchsia, let the leaves drop off in spring, reduce watering, and move it to a cool and dark room. New growth should appear in the spring.
Repot your Fuchsia annually in spring. These plants need a rich supply of organic material to flower and perform at their best, so even if you're not stepping the plant up to a larger pot, repot it into a fresh pot with new soil. Add some controlled-release fertilizer pellets at repotting time to increase vigor.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Fuchsia.
Links
- Back to genus Fuchsia
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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