Type

• There are over 100 species of fuchsia plants and 3,000 to 5,000 cultivars, although a much smaller number are commonly grown in the United States. Most fuchsias that home gardeners grow can be classified as upright plants or trailing plants. Upright plants typically retain a bushy shape as they grow, while trailing plants have cascading stems and blossoms ideal for hanging baskets or some rock gardens. Fuchsias may also be divided into types based on how hardy they are during hot or cold weather.
  
  

Features

• Fuchsias have colorful, ornamental flowers that hang down gracefully from the stems and leaves. The flowers have a decorative shape with four or more sepals at the top, often curling out to the sides, and four or more petals that form a bell or blossom shape below. They also have long stamens that stick out from the center of the flower. Many fuchsia flowers come in two different colors for the sepals and petals, and they may be bright colors such as red and purple, or more subtle pinks and whites.
  
  

Size

• Most cultivated fuchsia plants are fairly compact shrubs that often work well in hanging baskets and containers. They usually grow from 8 inches to several feet tall, but a few species may grow up to 12 feet tall or more. The Kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata) of New Zealand is actually a tree that may grow nearly 40 to 50 feet tall. The fuchsia leaves typically measure less than 1/2 inch to nearly 10 inches long, with most being 2 to 4 inches.
  
  

Geography

• Most species of fuchsia are native to the tropical and subtropical areas of South and America, although some originate in Mexico, Central America and New Zealand. In the United States, they may be grown indoors or outdoors, depending on the climate and the cultivar, and may be perennial or grown just for a season. They generally prefer shady areas in warm climates, and sunnier areas in cool climates. Local garden clubs, nurseries and fuchsia societies often maintain lists of cold hardy or heat tolerant plants that grow well in a particular area.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Fuchsia plants are available in many nurseries and garden centers, as well as through online or paper catalogs. Home gardeners may want to consider how well suited a particular type of fuchsia is for their climate, as well as the color of the flowers and how the plant looks. Dedicated fuchsia growers can often propagate new plants by taking cuttings. Some climates require gardeners to protect fuchsias during the winter, or take them indoors until spring, while others allow fuchsias to remain outdoors all year. Gardeners may also need to follow different gardening advice depending on whether they grow fuchsia plants in the grow or in containers.