How to grow hardy fuchsias
All you need to know about growing hardy fuchsias, plus varieties to try, in our Grow Guide.
Plant Size: Height: 150 Spread: 150 |
Hardy fuchsias are commonly grown in UK gardens, and it's no surprise – many flower from June to November, need very little care, and come back every year. In milder parts of the UK, hardy fuchsias can grow into a shrub up to 3m in height and have even ‘escaped’ from gardens to become naturalised in hedges and waysides. In colder regions, hardy fuchsias may be damaged by frost but almost always regrow from the base in spring. Iit’s important to differentiate hardy types of fuchsia from the showier, frost tender varieties that need winter protection.
How can I tell if a fuchsia is hardy?
Hardy fuchsias are larger than tender varieties, with shrub-like, woody stems and an upright growth habit. The flowers are pendant, borne in pairs, and come in a wide range of colours including red, white, and pink, and are generally smaller than tender fuchsia varieties. Some hardy fuchsias have coloured or variegated leaves. Most hardy fuchsia varieties survive UK winters, although some may still require protection from the harshest weather.
Where to grow hardy fuchsia
Grow hardy fuchsias in sun or part shade in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil – hardy fuchsias are hungry plants so need a good soil to support them. Varieties with paler flowers stand out more in partial shade, and those with yellow foliage are also better out of strong sun which can cause leaf scorch. In colder areas, the best place to plant hardy fuchsias is in the protection of a sheltered wall or fence. Grow hardy fuchsias in mixed borders. Taller varieties work well as a hedge, while compact varieties do well in pots.
When to plant hardy fuchsia
Plant hardy fuchsias in spring to give them plenty of time to establish a solid root system before winter sets in. Hardy fuchsias die back in cold winters and regrow from the base in spring – the more established the root system, the more better the chances of the young plant surviving a cold winter.
How to plant hardy fuchsia
Dig a planting hole into fertile soil, improving beforehand if needed by adding a generous amount of well-rotted compost or manure. Position the rootball in the hole, making sure the base of the stem sits around 5cm below the soil surface (this will protect the roots from frost) and then backfill with soil and firm gently. Water thoroughly and continue watering in dry weather, until the plant shows signs of new growth.
To plant hardy fuchsia in pots, use a soil-based potting compost mixed with a third of peat-free multi-purpose compost or leaf mould. Use a good-sized pot, around 30cm wide and deep.
How to care for hardy fuchsia
Hardy fuchsias growing in the ground need little care once established, apart from annual pruning, and an occasional thorough watering during periods of drought. Pot-grown hardy fuchsias need regular watering from spring to autumn, and for optimum results feed fortnightly during summer and early autumn with a high potash fertiliser such as tomato food. Deadheading spent blooms keeps plants looking smart and encourages more flowers to develop.
How to prune hardy fuchsia
Hardy fuchsia responds well to hard pruning and can be cut back almost to the base of the plant, typically 7-10cm from the ground. In mild areas, prune in mid-spring, after the plant has started to show signs of new growth. In colder regions, wait until late spring, when all risk of frost has passed. Cut back dead stems to live wood.
How to propagate hardy fuchsia
Hardy fuchsias are easy to propagate from hardwood cuttings.
- In late autumn, cut pencil-thick sections from woody stems and trim to around 15cm, with the base just below a pair of leaves. Remove the lowest pair of leaves
- Fill a 15cm pot with gritty, peat-free cuttings compost. Firm the compost and water well, allowing the water to drain. Push the cuttings into the compost around the edge of the pot, ensuring around half of each cutting is in the compost
- Place the pot in a cool, frost-free location such as an unheated greenhouse or cold frame, keeping the compost just damp. New shooots should appear by spring. Pot the cuttings into individual pots in late spring, after they have sprouted leaves and grown on
- Plant them into their final growing positions in early summer
Pests and diseases
Capsid bugs suck sap from new shoots, causing unsightly blemishes on the leaves and, in large enough numbers, can inhibit flowering. Natural predators include birds and ground beetles, so growing a wide range of plants and avoiding use of pesticides can facilitate natural pest control.
Advice on buying hardy fuchsias
- Make sure you have the right growing conditions for your hardy fuchsia before buying, especially if growing in pots
- Hardy fuchsias are available from a wide range of garden retailers but you will find more choice at specialist nurseries
- Always check plants for signs of pests and diseases before buying
Where to buy hardy fuchsias
Types of hardy fuchsia to grow
Fuchsia 'Alice Hoffman'
Fuchsia 'Alice Hoffman' is a small, bushy variety with standout white and pink blooms, set against bronze-green foliage. A particularly showy variety, it suits being grown alone in a large pot or container.
Height x Spread: 50cm x 50cm
Hardiness: H4
Fuchsia 'Beacon'
This upright variety has bright pink sepals and cosmic purple petals. 'Beacon' looks beautiful planted alongside purple-leafed heucheras and pink-flowered astrantias that help to complement the colourful blooms.
H x S: 60cm x 60cm
Hardiness: H2
Fuchsia 'Lady Boothby'
As a climbing fuchsia, 'Lady Boothby' can be trained to cover walls, obelisks and fences to create dramatic pillars of colour. This variety has fresh green foliage and deep pink and purple blooms.
H x S: 3m x 90cm
Hardiness: H4
Fuchsia 'Rose of Castile' Improved
'Rose of Castile' is a vigorous, free-flowering cultivar with rosy, off-white sepals and purple-pink petals. Upright in habit, it's a good choice for training as a standard or against a wall.
H x S: 90cm x 90cm
Hardiness: H4
Fuchsia 'Brutus'
This old variety was bred in 1897 by French horticulturist Victor Lemoine. 'Brutus' has since garnered a reputation as a reliable, vigorous and particularly free-flowering variety, with intense purple and pink blooms.
H x S: 90cm x 90cm
Hardiness: H4
Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple'
Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple' is a popular variety bearing masses of blooms from early summer and into autumn. Given its bushy, upright growth habit it's a good option if you're looking to create a flowering hedge.
H x S: 1m x 1m
Hardiness: H4
Fuchsia magellanica
With pink, tapering sepals and rich purple petals, Fuchsia magellanica and its cultivars are decidedly elegant. They can reach a height of 150cm, or more in warmer climates, which is relatively large compared with most other fuchsias you might come across.
H x S: 2.5m x 2m
Hardiness: H4
