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Fuchsia magellanica
  • RHS AGM
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

lady's eardrops

An upright shrub to about 3m tall, which makes an attractive hedge in milder areas, where it can remain semi-evergreen. Flowers have scarlet sepals with a purple corolla and are produced freely through summer

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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Purple Red Green
Autumn Purple Red Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Onagraceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous or Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Although Fuchsia berries are edible, most are not particularly tasty and are sparsley produced on plants. Fuchsia plants are generally grown as an ornamental and not for fruit crops within the UK
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

Plant range
Chile, Argentina

How to grow

Cultivation

Can be grown outdoors in moist, fertile soil. Plant the base of the stem 5cm below the soil surface and provide a deep winter mulch and shelter from cold drying winds. May remain semi-evergreen in milder areas where it can be grown as a hedge. See hardy fuchsia cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Coastal
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Hedging and screens
Pruning

Pruning group 6

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, fuchsia gall mite, capsid bug and vine weevil

Diseases

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

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