Does it need pruning?

Yes, prune back hard in early spring to encourage vigorous new growth.

Can it grow in full sun?

It prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun if the soil stays consistently moist.

Plant guide

Hardy Fuchsia.

Fuchsia magellanica

Pronounced FEW-shah mah-gel-lan-ih-kuh

Also known as Fuchsia, Hardy fuchsia, Hummingbird Fuchshia

The hardy fuchsia is a lovely, woody shrub that brings a splash of color to your garden with its unique, dangling flowers. It is much tougher than its tropical cousins and can handle cooler temperatures quite well. You will love how it attracts hummingbirds all season long.

Another photo of Hardy Fuchsia — Photo by Brett Robinson (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 3 to 10 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 6 to 9
Bloom time: Mid summer to late autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to help your plant thrive. Watch for wilting leaves, which often signal that the plant needs a drink. If you live in a colder area, add a layer of mulch around the base to protect the roots during winter.

Watering: Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Cut back dead stems in early spring to encourage fresh, vigorous growth.
Repotting: Move to a slightly larger container once the roots begin to circle the bottom.
Soil: Well-draining, humus-rich soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -10 to 30°C
Humidity: 50 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: This plant is generally considered non toxic to humans.
Pets: This plant is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The small berries may present a choking hazard to small children if ingested.
Edibility: While the berries are technically edible, they are often considered flavorless or unpalatable and are not recommended for consumption.

How to identify it

Dangling, bell-shaped flowers
Red and purple color contrast
Slender, arching woody stems
Small, ovate, serrated leaves

Height: 0.6 to 3m
Spread: 0.6 to 2m
Leaves: green, bronze, deciduous
Flowers: red, purple, 2 to 5cm
Fruit: dark purple, black, Autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Fuchsia Gall MiteCommon
Botrytis BlightUncommon
Root RotUncommon
RustUncommon
WhiteflyUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, early autumn
Overwintering: Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base in late autumn to protect the roots from freezing. In very cold areas, you can wrap the stems with burlap for extra insulation.
In containers: It grows well in large pots, provided they are at least 30 centimeters in diameter and have excellent drainage.

Softwood cuttings

Take 10 centimeter cuttings from non flowering shoots in late spring.
Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
Insert into a moist, well draining potting mix.
Cover with a plastic bag to maintain humidity until roots form.

Plant in a sheltered spot to protect the stems from drying winds.

Grows well with

Hostas · They thrive in similar shady, moist conditions and provide contrasting foliage textures.
Ferns · Ferns complement the delicate structure of fuchsia with their lush, architectural fronds.

Similar species

Hardy Fuchsia · Another hardy species that shares similar growth habits and flower structure.

Science

Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Fuchsia
Order: Myrtales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern South America, specifically Chile and Argentina.
Conservation: This species is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in cool, moist forest margins and sheltered valleys in its native range.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: hummingbirds, bees
Uses: ornamental shrub, hedge, container plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need pruning?: Yes, prune back hard in early spring to encourage vigorous new growth.
Can it grow in full sun?: It prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun if the soil stays consistently moist.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors German botanist Leonhart Fuchs, while the specific epithet refers to the Magellan Strait region where it was discovered.

Good to know

It is one of the hardiest fuchsia species available for garden use.
The flowers have a distinct pendulous shape that attracts hummingbirds.
It can grow quite large in mild climates, sometimes reaching the size of a small tree.

Keep your hardy fuchsia growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.