Common Name:

General Information

Fuchsia fulgens is an erect, soft-wooded shrub growing from a thickened, tuberous underground rootstock, it can grow 50 - 300cm tall[]. The plant often grows as an epiphyte in trees or on rocks[].
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild and consumed locally. The plant is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern N. America - central Mexico.

Habitat

Rocky places, old walls, woodlands and open areas, often as an epiphyte on oaks, in Jalisco, Michoacan and Morelia[]. Found especially around seepages and waterfalls, at elevations of 1,450 - 2,300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The top-growth of Fuchsia fulgens can only tolerate occasional light frosts. The tuberous rootstock, however, being protected by the soil, is rather more tolerant, especially when growing in a well-drained soil and protected by an organic mulch. The plant can usually be grown outdoors in the mildest parts of the temperate zone and, even when the top-growth is cut back by frosts, it usually regrows in the spring, flowering and fruiting in the summer[, ].
An easily grown plant and very free-flowering when in warm, sunny, humid conditions and a rich well-drained soil[]. Succeeds in any fertile well-drained circum-neutral soil[]. Succeeds in a good loam if leafmold and sand are added[].
Plants have a tuberous rootstock[], and if cut back by frost will often regenerate from the roots. The roots can be dug up and stored overwinter in a cool dry but frost-free location and then planted out again in the spring[]. Plants tolerate being left dry and leafless in the winter[].
Fuchsia species flower and fruit mainly on new wood produced in the same growing season. Any pruning, therefore, is best carried out at the start of the growing season, cutting out old wood in order to encourage vigorous new growth[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
A good bee plant[].
This species is a parent of many ornamental cultivated greenhouse varieties[]. Plants are very susceptible to whitefly[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. An acidic flavour[]. A juicy berry with a very nice flavour[]. Also used as a beverage[, ]. The fruit can be up to 30mm long and 15mm wide[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[] though it can also be sown in the spring[]. Surface sow the seed in pots in a warm greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out[]. Germination should take place in less than 6 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Inter-nodal cuttings of greenwood, 5 - 8cm long, May/early summer in a frame. Quick and easy, a high percentage take[, ]. Overwinter in the greenhouse for the first year and plant out after the last expected frosts.
Inter-nodal cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Very quick and easy, treat as greenwood cuttings above[].
Cuttings usually succeed at any time during the growing season[].
Division of tubers in the spring[]. Dig up the plant as it comes into active growth and pot up the tubers with their growing stems. Grow them on in the greenhouse until established and plant them out in early summer.