Common Name:

General Information

Fuchsia paniculata is an erect, deciduous shrub or small tree growing 3 - 8 metres tall.
The edible fruit is sometimes gathered from the wild and consumed locally. The plant is often grown as an ornamental[].
Plants have escaped from cultivation in Hawaii and become naturalized there[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern N. America to C. America - southern Mexico to Panama

Habitat

Cloud forests.

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Fuchsia paniculata is only hardy in the mildest parts of the temperate zone. It can grow well in Cornwall, UK (hardiness zone 8) when well sited - it is usualy cut back to ground level by frosts but will usually resprout from the base in the spring, especially if the plant has been given a generous organic mulch. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[].
Succeeds in any fertile well-drained circum-neutral soil[]. Succeeds in a good loam if sand and leafmold are added[].
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 have escaped from cultivation in Hawaii and become naturalized there[].
A gynodioecious species with some plants producing only female flowers and others producing hermaphrodite flowers[]. Gynodioecy occurs as a result of a genetic mutation that inhibits a hermaphroditic plant from producing pollen, while keeping the female reproductive parts intact.
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A juicy berry[], it is about 9mm long and 7mm 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[].