Fuchsia regia (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Moist and well drained
Flowering period: Summer to autumn
Eventual Height: 5m (up to 15m in a tree)
Eventual Spread: 5m
Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
Family: Onagraceae
Fuchsia regia is a semi-evergreen shrub with a bushy/ scrambling habit. Its mid green leaves are elliptic to ovate with entire margins, up to 6cm long and 3cm broad. Its flowers are pendulous and hermaphroditic with red sepals and purple petals. Its dark purple fruit are oblong, up to 25mm long and 13mm broad.
Fuchsia regia Flower (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Fuchsia regia, occasionally commonly known as Vining Fuchsia, is native to Argentina and Chile and south east Brazil. In its native habitat it grows on wet mountain slopes and readily scrambles up trees.
The etymological root of the binomial name Fuchsia was named for Leonard Fuchs, a 16th century German botanist. Regia is from the Latin meaning ‘ royal’.
The Landscape architect may find Fuchsia regia useful as an attractive summer flowering shrub if kept pruned. It may be planted at the base of trees where it will scramble upwards.
Ecologically, Fuchsia regia flowers will attract pollinating insects.
Fuchsia regia prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Fuchsia regia Leaf (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Fuchsia regia requires little to no maintenance. May be trimmed in early spring to encourage a bushy habit and flowering.
