Fuchsia Plant Care

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Overview

A fuchsia is an evergreen in temperate climates and a deciduous shrub in regions that receive heavy frost in winters. Fuchsias come in many colors and varieties and can grow as a shrub or as a hanging plant.

A blossoming Fuchsia image by "Rainy Day Fuschia" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: foxypar4 (John Haslam) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

History

The discovery of the fuchsia dates to the 17th century, with credit to a priest, Charles Plumier. He named the plant fuchsia after his acquaintance, fellow botanist Dr. Leonard Fuchs.

Size

Fuchsias grow as shrubs, as espaliers and in tree shape, achieving heights of up to 18 feet. They can also grow as climbers in hanging baskets that trail 3 to 5 feet.

Fuchsia Plant Care image by "Red Beauties (Fuchsia )" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Swami Stream (Swaminathan) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Growing Conditions

Grow fuchsias where they will receive plenty of filtered light, good drainage and plenty of water. Fuchsias will also grow in direct sunlight, as long as their root system does not dry out.

Considerations

Fuchsias need fertilizer, preferably high-potash liquid fertilizer. To keep your fuchsia blooming throughout its growing season, remove the expired blossoms, known as "deadheading."

Expert Insight

Aphids and white flies are common fuchsia pests. Eradicate both aphids and white flies by mixing 2 to 4 teaspoons of insecticidal soap in a quart of water and spraying the infested leaves until they are saturated with the solution.

References

Garden Action

Who Can Help

Insecticidal soap usage information
Information on fuchsias

Keywords: fuchsia flowers, growing fuchsias, Leonard Fuchs

About this Author

Katelyn Lynn has been writing health and wellness articles since 2007. Her work appears on various websites. Lynn is a certified holistic health practitioner who specializes in orthomolecular medicine and preventative modalities. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in health sciences from TUI University and has extensive experience in botany and horticulture.

New in Perennial Plant Care

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