Fuchsias are very popular and long-lasting summer bloomers that are particularly noticeable because of the striking shape of their flowers. The evening primrose family, which originally comes from the rainforests of South America, offers variety due to its variety of species and varieties, although not all fuchsias are hardy. In this article you will find out which fuchsia varieties are hardy in our climate and what you need to pay attention to when planting and caring for these gems.
Which fuchsia varieties are hardy and how do you care for them?
Hardy fuchsia varieties include Alice Hoffmann, Ballerina blue, Beacon Rosa, Caledonia, Cardinal Farges and Chillerton Beauty. They need a deep planting location for root protection and winter protection so that they can thrive in frost resistance.
Proven hardy fuchsias
The overview below offers you an overview of recommended winter-hardy fuchsia varieties, almost all of which are very old varieties - some dating back to the middle of the 19th century. These have proven themselves in German gardens to this day and are often planted. Of course, the list is not complete, because as of today there are around 70 to 100 fuchsia varieties that are hardy in our climate - apart from the mostly hardy wild forms or variants that are very similar to wild forms, such as Fuchsia magellanica, Fuchsia procumbens or Fuchsia regia.
| Variety | Bloom | Flower color | Leaves | Growth | Growth height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Hoffmann | half-filled | light red / white | bronze | bushy, standing | 30 to 60 cm |
| Ballerina pumps blue | easy | red / medium blue | dark green | upright | up to approx. 50 cm |
| Beacon Pink | easy | pink | dark green | standing, richly branched | 50 to 70 cm |
| Caledonia | simple, very small | light pink / light carmine red | dark green | hanging | up to approx. 50 cm |
| Cardinal Farges | simple or semi-filled | red / white | green | upright | 50 to 60 cm |
| Chillerton Beauty | easy | light pink / violet | medium green | upright, richly branched | 70 to 90 cm |
| Constance | filled | light pink / violet | medium green | upright, sometimes overhanging | 45 to 60 cm |
| Delicate Blue | easy | white / dark purple | dark green | hanging | up to approx. 30 cm |
| Delicate Purple | easy | dark pink / aubergine | dark green | hanging | up to approx. 40 cm |
| Dirk van Delen | easy | light pink / pink | dark green | upright | up to approx. 60 cm |
| Empress of Prussia | half-filled | red / violet | dark green | upright | up to approx. 90 cm |
| Exoniensis | filled | red | light green | standing | up to approx. 90 cm |
| Friends of Dortmund | easy | dark red / dark purple | dark green | bushy, upright | up to approx. 50 cm |
| Madame Cornelissen | semi-filled or filled | cherry red / white | dark green | standing | 60 to 80 cm |
| Beautiful Helena | half-filled | cream white / lavender | strong green | standing | up to approx. 50 cm |
Planting and caring for hardy fuchsias
If you want to plant hardy fuchsias, pay particular attention to these points:
- If possible, only plant strong, well-rooted specimens.
- Planting is best done in June and July.
- The fuchsias are placed in a hollow about 20 centimeters deep.
- This will be refilled until the following fall.
- The deeper planting protects the sensitive roots.
- In winter, even hardy plants always need winter protection!
With most hardy fuchsias, the above-ground parts of the plant freeze back and should be cut back in early spring. The plants sprout again from the rootstock around April. An exception is Fuchsia regia, which does not freeze back but sprouts again from its wood. Fuchsia regia is also much more resistant to frost than other fuchsia species.
Tip
The so-called dry freezing in winter can be problematic for hardy fuchsias, in which the plants can dry out due to a lack of soil moisture (e.g. during frost).