Fuchsia Thalia Fuchsia triphylla
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FEW-shuh try-FIL-uh
- Description
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Firecracker Fuchsia is a shade loving, easy to grow, small, flowering, deciduous shrub in the Onagraceae family and is native to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Because of its long bloom period and attractive foliage and flowers, it is often grown as an ornamental and is the parent of many Fuschia hybrids. The plant's leaves are whorled with a red or maroon tint on the underside. The flowers are drooping, long, tubular, and red-orange or red-purple. While a perennial in its native environment, the plant is typically grown as an annual in containers or in the ground after all danger of frost is gone. In fall, the plant can be cut back and overwintered in a dark, cool room with minimal watering until spring. Alternatively, stem cuttings taken in late summer can be potted up for the winter and put into the garden in spring. 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 plant's leaves that are borne in sets of three.
Firecracker 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 partial to full shade. The ideal growing conditions (temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F, a PH range of 6 to 7, and some shade from direct sunlight) are typical of its native environment. You can also plant Firecracker 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. Whiteflies can be problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fuchsia
- Species:
- triphylla
- Family:
- Onagraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Drooping, tubular flowers with prominent stamens from spring to frost. Summer heat can affect flowering and foliage.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Oval, dentate, medium green leaves, 2 to 5 inches long, with a red tint on the underside of each leaf.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds