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Fuchsia Facts

Fuchsia Facts
Fuchsia, also known as lady's eardrop, is bushy plant that belongs to the family evening primrose. It originates from Chile, Argentina and Mexico. There are more than 100 species and numerous varieties of fuchsia that grow in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Fuchsia can be found from the sea level to the altitude of 13.900 feet. These plants were discovered at the end of 17th century and named in honor of the famous German botanist Leonhart Fuchs. Ever since that time, popularity of fuchsias is growing and today they represent one of the most cultivated ornamental plants in the world.
Interesting Fuchsia Facts:
Fuchsia usually grows in the form of shrub that can reach from 8 inches to more than 13 feet in height, depending on the variety.
Fuchsia has simple, lanceolate leaves gathered in whorls or arranged in opposite pairs on the branches. Margins can be whole or serrated.
Fuchsia develops drooping, tubular or bell-shaped flowers. They can be seen during the summer and autumn in subtropical areas or all year round in tropics. Flowers last few days.
Majority of species of fuchsia develop brightly colored flowers, composed of red sepals and purple petals. Some varieties of fuchsia produce white, yellowish, orange, dark red and purple-blue colored flowers.
Colorful flowers attract hummingbirds, main pollinators of fuchsia.
Fruit of fuchsia are berries. They can be reddish green, red or purple-colored, depending on the variety. Berries are filled with numerous miniature seed.
All parts of fuchsia are edible, but berries are the most popular and most commonly used in human diet. Their taste ranges from acidic to sweet, depending on the cultivar. Berries are usually consumed in the form of jams.
Native Americans used root of fuchsia as a source of black pigment for coloring of wool.
Unlike other species of fuchsia, Fuchsia excorticata grows as tree. Its wood is so dense and hard that it cannot be used as firewood. Wood of Fuchsia excorticata is used for carving and manufacture of various long-lasting objects (such as combs).
Indigenous people of New Zealand (Maori) were using blue pollen from the flowers of Fuchsia excorticata as a source of make-up.
Fuchsia is a symbol of "good taste" in Japan, and "confiding love" and "amiability" in the western societies.
Fuchsia is often cultivated in gardens because of its beautiful flowers and longevity. Fuchsia can be grown as shrub, trailing vine, miniature tree or bedding plant.
Mites, aphids, caterpillars and various moths feed on fuchsia and negatively affect growth and development of this plant.
Word "fuchsia" can be used to describe bright, purple-pink color. This shade is also known as magenta.
Fuchsia can survive for hundreds of years. Oldest known fuchsia (that still lives) was planted in 1899.


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