Fuchsia (Angel earrings) is a genus of about 110 species of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, native to Central and South America, Mexico, New Zealand and Tahiti. Genus Fuchsia was named after German botanist Leonhart Fuchs, 1501-1566. Fuchsia is also referring to the vivid purplish red color.
The genus consists of mostly shrubs and small trees, 0.2-4 m tall, growing in tropical and subtropical regions. One exceptional New Zealand species, F. excorticata, is a tree, growing 12-15 m tall. The leaves are deciduous or evergreen, opposite or in whorls of 3-5, lanceolate with serrated or entire margins, 1-25 cm long, depending on species. Flowers are of a pendulous 'teardrop' shape, emerge in profusion throughout the summer and autumn, and all year in tropical species. The four sepals are long and slender, and the petals are shorter and broader. Many species have bright red sepals and purple petals, a combination of colors that attract the hummingbirds that pollinate them. The colors can vary from white to dark red, purple-blue, and orange. Some have flowers with a yellowish tone, with the recent hybrids have white in various combinations. The ovary is inferior. The small fruit is a dark reddish green, deep red, or deep purple berry with numerous tiny seeds.
Some fuchsia species and cultivars produce fruits that are edible. Fuchsia splendens produces the best tasting berries, with a flavor that reminiscent of citrus and pepper, and can be used to make into jam. Some other species have flavorless fruits, or fruits that give a bad aftertaste.
Fuchsia are popular garden plants, and once planted can live for years with minimum care. They are grown for their very attractive, usually pendent flowers that are borne almost continuously from summer to autumn. The plants are ideal for summer-bedding schemes, containers, in hanging baskets, as hedges and in permanent plantings. Fuchsia grows well in full sun or partial shade, fertile, moist and well-drained soil. The flowers attract birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Propagation is by seeds, softwood, semi-hardwood, and hardwood cuttings. Pest and diseases are glasshouse whitefly, vine weevil, Fuchsia gall mite, fuchsia rust and red spider mite.
Fuchsia excorticata http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Konini_02.jpg Tony Wills
Fuchsia fulgens http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fuchsia_fulgens,_Jard%C3%ADn_Bot%C3%A1nico_de_M%C3%BAnich,_Alemania,_2013-05-04,_DD_02.jpg Diego Delso
Fuchsia magellanica http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoa_l%E1%BB%93ng_%C4%91%C3%A8n.jpg Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fuchsia_arborescens.jpg
anniesannuals
