How to Grow Hardy Fuchsia

There is something so beautifully ephemeral about fuchsias.

You don’t get the chance to know and understand them as intimately as you would a plant that you care for year after year, such as a rose. They are here and then gone in just a few months.

That is, unless you grow hardy fuchsias.

Sure, those tender fuchsias that you can buy at the home supply store are gorgeous, but most of us end up tossing these perennials out at the end of the growing season.

They can’t survive even a hint of frost, so it’s tough to keep them around for the long haul in most climates.

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Hardy fuchsias, however, can live in places that see temperatures ranging down to -5°F. That means you can enjoy the uniquely ravishing blossoms that these lovelies offer up for more than just one year.

These plants have different growing requirements than their tender siblings, and this guide aims to help you make them thrive as the showy perennial shrubs they were meant to be.

Here’s what we’ll discuss to make that happen:

If you’re ready to start the beginning of your beautiful friendship with hardy fuchsias, then let’s dig in.

Before we jump into the growing tips and recommendations, we should be clear about what sets the hardy ones apart from “tender” fuchsias.

Most people think of fuchsias as tropical or semi-tropical plants. While it’s true that most species grow natively near the equator, many grow at extremely high elevations in that area. F. dependens, for instance, grows at up to 10,900 feet above sea level in Ecuador.

That means these plants are able to