Fuchsia magellanica (Lady's Eardrops)

Botanical Information

FamilyOnagraceae
GenusFuchsia
Speciesmagellanica
CategoryTropicals
TypeShrub (evergreen)

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone8b - 9a
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone8a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH4
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-10 to -5
Temperature (°F)14 - 23
Height1 - 1.5 m
Spread1 - 1.5 m
GrowthMedium

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionFuchsia magellanica is an erect or semi-climbing shrub with ovate-elliptic, tooth-edged leaves and crimson and purple, long, drooping blooms.
ShapeColumnar upright.
LandscapeBeautiful in urban gardens in a border or container plant, especially if hung.
PropagationPropagate by seed or from semi-ripe or softwood cuttings.
CultivationCan be grown outdoors in moist soil in a frost free area.
Notable SpecimensNiagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Trebah Gardens, Mawnan Smith, Nr Falmouth, Cornwall.
Bark/Stem DescriptionRed-brown when branches are young, flaking during maturity.
Leaf DescriptionGreen, opposite, arranged in threes or sometimes fours, ovate-elliptic, 1.5 - 5.5(7)?0.5 - 2.5(4) cm, edge crenate-dentate, leafstalk 0.3 - 2 cm.
Flower DescriptionHermaphrodite, droop off stems on long pedicels, overall oblong in shape. Crimson tube and sepals, obovate petals are deep purple. Stamens and pistils are quite long. Style exceeds stamens. Sepals tend to curl up.
Fruit DescriptionDroop off stems on long pedicels, oblong, greenish-purple and dark purple in autumn, edible.

Photographs