Fuchsia magellanica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FEWK-see-ah mage-a-LAN-ik-ah
- Description
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Hardy fuchsia is a shade loving, easy to grow, perennial, deciduous shrub in the Onagraceae family. With showy red flowers from summer until the first frost, this perennial has a beautiful fountain-like form. The plant is very resistant of salt exposure and tolerates trimming, which makes it a good hedge, especially in maritime areas. This is the hardiest of the fuchsias (of which there are many), but generally the tops die back at the first frost. The roots are hardy with mulching; and in cold areas it is treated as a perennial. The genus name honors Leonhart Fuchs (1501-1566), a German physician and herbalist who published a book on herbs with unusually beautiful woodcuts of plants. The species name refers to the fact that the plant comes from the region of the Magellan Straits in Chile.
Hardy fuchsia does well in fertile, well-drained soil and prefers soil rich in humus, although it does tolerate heavy clay soils. It does best in cool moist conditions with some shade. You can also plant Hardy fuchsia in hanging baskets, containers, or window boxes. It will die back to the ground during a hard freeze. If it doesn't die back, you may wish to prune the stems to the ground to rejuvenate growth in the spring.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases. Aphids, spider mites and whiteflies can be problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Pollinator and Culinary Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fuchsia
- Species:
- magellanica
- Family:
- Onagraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America: Peru, Chile, Argentina, south to Tierra del Fuego
- Distribution:
- Introduced to United States Pacific coast, Mexico, Britain.
- Wildlife Value:
- Hummingbirds and bees are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Irregular
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Juicy oblong berries that are not edible by humans.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- Bloom in summer until frost with small magenta to red flowers. Drooping, tubular flowers with prominent stamens. Flowering may decline and foliage may wilt in the heat of the summer. One or two flowers per node of distal leaves.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Oval, dentate, medium green leaves 2 to 5 inches long. Whorls of 3 or 4 per node, sometimes opposite. Leaf blade elliptic-ovate or ovate to lanceolate.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Red stems: thin, red-brown, glabrous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
