6 named cultivars

shrub

Hardy Fuchsia

Fuchsia magellanica

The Story

Plant Bio

Fuchsia magellanica, the hardy fuchsia, is an arching deciduous shrub from southern Chile and Argentina, reaching five to ten feet where winters are mild. Thin red-brown stems carry whorls of oval toothed leaves, and slender pendent flowers with scarlet sepals and a violet skirt hang along the branches from summer until frost.

This is the fuchsia that survives outdoors: in colder gardens it dies back to the ground each winter and regrows to flower on the new wood, so leave the old stems standing as crown protection and cut back only once spring growth shows. The berries are not eaten. It is also, unusually, listed as invasive in parts of Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest.

Uses & Benefits:

Months of pendent scarlet and violet flowers on an arching shrub, in shade where little else performs.

The hardiest fuchsia by a wide margin, and dense enough for an informal hedge in mild regions.

Hummingbirds and bees feed heavily at the tubular flowers over a very long season.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

90 inches

Width

90 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Southern Chile and Argentina

Toxicity

Berries are not eaten

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in partial shade or dappled sunlight.
Give it moist but freely draining soil.
Mulch the crown deeply in its first winters.
Leave the old stems standing over winter.
Cut back to new growth once it shows in spring.
Water through dry spells; it dislikes drought.

Pro Tip

Leave the dead-looking stems until spring — they shelter the crown, and cutting them in autumn is what loses plants over winter.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in dappled or partial shade 🌤️
Mulch the crown before winter 🍂
Wait for spring growth before pruning ✂️
Keep it watered through dry spells 💧

Don't

Cut it back in autumn ❌
Let it bake in full afternoon sun ❌
Plant it where it is listed invasive ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mulch
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Informal hedge in mild coastal gardensShaded shrub borderHummingbird and pollinator planting

Companion Plants

Hydrangea HostaJapanese Painted Fern AstilbeHellebore

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Hardy Fuchsia questions

What zones can Hardy Fuchsia grow in?

Hardy Fuchsia is hardy in USDA Zones 6–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Hardy Fuchsia deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Hardy Fuchsia, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Hardy Fuchsia bloom?

Hardy Fuchsia typically blooms in summer to frost through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Hardy Fuchsia need full sun?

Hardy Fuchsia does best in part shade.