Fuchsia excorticata

RHS Plant Profile

tree fuchsia

Other common names

kōtukutuku, New Zealand fuchsia

Shrubs Trees Conservatory Greenhouse

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A species of large, tender, upright, bushy, deciduous shrub or small tree which can reach a height of around 12m in ideal conditions, with dark green foliage and attractive, pale brown peeling ornamental bark when mature which can be argued is its best feature. Yellow and violet-purple flowers with appear from summer through until autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Onagraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Although Fuchsia berries are edible, most are not particularly tasty and are sparsely produced on plants. Fuchsia plants are generally grown as an ornamental and not for fruit crops within the UK Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Fuchsia can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees, rarely perennials, with opposite or whorled leaves and usually pendent flowers with conspicuous tubular calyx, 4 spreading sepals and 4 erect petals
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a cool or frost-free greenhouse in a container of peat-free multi-purpose compost in bright indirect light and keep just moist. Water freely and use a general liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to summer. Plants of a managable size can be placed outdoors in the summer months. See tender fuchsia cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 6; may need restrictive pruning under glass

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, capsid bug, fuchsia gall mite, fuchsia flea beetle, glasshouse red spider mite and vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to fuchsia rust, grey moulds and honey fungus (rarely)