Bloom Blast! October 7, 2010

Trailing Fuchsia (Fuchsia procumbens)

Although it does not appear to have reached the gardens of Europe until about 1874, trailing fuchsia was originally discovered by Robert Cunningham, an Englishman, in 1834 on the North Island of New Zealand growing in the sand along the shoreline.

Prostrate in growth, with the trailing stems often attaining several feet in length, trailing fuchsia likes growing down banks and can cover an area of around 18 to 20 feet. The foliage cannot be recognized as fuchsia, with very small leaves, heart shaped and pretty, and borne on slender stalks. The trailing stems will root quite freely, becoming woody and creeping.

The flowers are really unique, very small and pointing upwards, and very un-fuchsia like. They have a greenish-yellow tube, which is red at the base, green sepals tipped purple to chocolate-brown, and no corolla but the stamens bear bright blue pollen. The tiny blooms, only up to 1/2 inch each, are nestled in the thick growth of foliage.

The fruit, which are green turning to plum-purple with maturity, are quite large and attractive, and are covered with plum-like bloom, making it one of the very few fuchsias where the berries are left on the plant for exhibition and judging purposes. While the fruits are edible, they are not considered tasty.

This species is extremely hardy, and can be used to effect in rock gardens, shade gardens, or even hanging baskets. It succeeds in any fertile, well-drained soil in part sun to part shade, but plants flower better when grown in a poor sandy soil. May now be endangered in the wild.

Click here for more information on growing and caring for fuchsias.

Click here to view more of our fuchsias in bloom.

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