Common Name:

General Information

Fuchsia thymifolia is an erect, evergreen shrub growing from 50 - 300cm tall[].
The edible fruit is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use. The plant is widely grown as an ornamental, especially in warm temperate zones to higher elevations in the tropics.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

C. America - northern Guatemala to northern Mexico.

Habitat

A common shrub in the understory of Pinus, Quercus, and Abies forests from the mountains of Sinaloa and Durango, Mexico, southward to Chiapas and northern Guatemala; at elevations from 1,800 - 3,200 metres.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Humming birds, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are likely to be able to tolerate at least some frost, and so should succeed outdoors in the mildest regions of the temperate zone[].
Succeeds in partial to fairly deep shade[].
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[].
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.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. The purple-black, glossy, ellipsoid fruit is 5 - 15mm in diameter[].

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[].