Fuchsia 'Orient Express' (T)

RHS Plant Profile
fuchsia 'Orient Express'

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Synonyms

Fuchsia triphylla 'Orient Express'

Shrubs Conservatory Greenhouse

A decidous, upright shrub with red stems bearing opposite or whorled mid-green leaves and from summer to autumn produces pendent flowers with a conspicuous pink tube, the sepals have light pink tips turning to dark pink as they mature, and corolla is rose red

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–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)
H1C

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Onagraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
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
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
Accepted
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

Fuchsia triphylla hybrids have long, narrow flowers and large leaves tinted bronze or maroon-red underneath. Unlike other Fuchsia varieties they can tolerate full sun

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a heated greenhouse, windowsill or conservatory, in containers of peat-free multi-purpose potting compost and plant outside in early summer, or use for summer containers in sun or part shade. Water freely and apply a general liquid fertiliser monthly, from spring to summer. See tender fuchsia cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in any season.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning Group 6

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)