Common Name:

General Information

Fuchsia splendens is a few to many-branched, soft-wooded shrub or small tree that can grow up to 6 metres tall, but is usually much lower[, ]. It is occasionally found as an epiphyte on trees[].
The edible fruit is often gathered from the wild for local use, and is commonly eaten by travellers as a substitute for water[]. The plant is often grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its attractive flowers[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Central America - Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and southern Mexico

Habitat

Moist or wet forest, often in loose sand, sometimes in high pine forest, often growing on cliffs and very frequently epiphytic on the moss-covered branches of trees, at elevations of 2,400 - 3,300 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Fuchsia splendens is only hardy in the mildest parts of the temperate zone. It can grow well in Cornwall and south Devon in the 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. A plant at Trengwainton in Cornwall growing out of a shady wall was about 2 metres tall and fruiting heavily in early August 1995[]. 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[]. A very adaptable plant, it tolerates the heavy shade of a north-facing wall and also a position in full sun, though the foliage is apt to be somewhat pale when plants grow in full sun[].
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 can flower and fruit for most of the year[].
Plants are very susceptible to whitefly[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. A juicy berry[], it is tart with a peppery after-taste[]. This is the nicest fuchsia fruit we have eaten as yet, its flavour is somewhat lemon-like with no noticed aftertaste, our 12 month old child was ecstatic about them, eating them in quantity[]. A very agreeable flavour[]. The fruit is so juicy, it is eaten as a substitute for water by travelling people and animals[]. It can be up to 40mm long and 8mm 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[].