Fuchsia regia

Common Names

Royal Fuchsia, Climbing Fuchsia, Vining Fuchsia, Brinco De Princesa

Summary

Royal fuchsia is a South American native in the Onagraceae family with a semi-deciduous habit and a variable form ranging from compact shrub to climbing with long pendulous side branches. It typically reaches 1.5–3 m tall in open positions, while forest forms can climb up to 15 m; leaves are mid-green and glossy on red stems, and flowers are pendulous with red sepals and purple petals, produced from summer through autumn, attracting hummingbirds and bees; the plant is self-fertile and bears dark purple fruit.

Culture: prefers moist, well-drained soils that are acidic, with full sun to partial shade and regular watering, especially in hot weather; not suitable for hanging baskets and is best trained on a fence or trellis or allowed to scramble up trees; habitat includes cloud forests, ravines and forest edges at elevations of 700–2,400 m; propagation by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings; hardy to zones 8a–11; low maintenance and valued as an ornamental for garden vertical interest and extended bloom from summer to autumn.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4 ft 11 in – 9 ft 10 in

Spread

3-8 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, acidic, humus-rich, well-drained loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil.

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Time

Spring to Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

2–5 years

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds