Fuchsia Species

In Genus Fuchsia, there are 122 named Fuchsia (Onagraceae) species, subspecies and varieties that grow wild in Mexico, Central and South America and New Zealand/Tahiti. Not all are in cultivation in North America, Europe or Asia, but, of those that are, they are some of the most beautiful and rewarding plants to grow.

Arranged into 12 sections by Genus Fuchsia taxonomist, Dr. Paul Berry, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, their names may be most difficult to pronounce, but growing and studying them gives insight into the thousands of hybrids they have parented as well as being intrinsically interesting.

The variety in these species is fascinating. Some grow in the northern part of South America, Central America and Mexico and like warmth. They have long tubes, some up to 4”, and often are shades of orange. Others, with red sepals longer than their tubes and purple corollas, are winter hardy on the West Coast of the Pacific Northwest and have parented many hardy hybrids. One section from Mexico includes species with wee blossoms, the smallest being only ¼ “ long. Surprisingly, they are often hardy as well.

Enjoy the photos!

Note: The photos are in no particular order because some sections will have additions later, some photos may be replaced with clearer ones, and not all 122 taxa are in cultivation and available for photos.

Section SKINNERA- New Zealand (1) F. excorticata- a 40' tree in New Zealand and the source of our "aubergine" hybrids. At maturity it is very dark in the tube and sepals.	This tree of F. excorticata grows in Oregon out by the Pacific Ocean. It is winter hardy but likes to bloom in spring when it is too cold in most inland areas.
Section SCHUFIA- Mexico to Central America. (3 taxa) F. paniculata subsp. paniculata- looks like a lilac, likes warmth and has serrated leaves. (Section Schufia has two other species that looks alot like this one: F. arborescens, only in Mexico with entire leaves and *F. paniculata subsp. mixensis* also growing in Mexico.)	Section HEMSLEYELLA- has no petals, has tuberous roots, and likes warmth. Central America to northern South America. (15 species) F. tillettiana is native to Venezuela.
F. pilaloensis is from Ecuador.	*F. juntasensis*- often likes to bloom after the leaves drop, needs warmth. Bolivia
*F. inflata* would not even be recognized as a fuchsia by most, except in Peru.	Section PROCUMBENTES- from New Zealand. (1) *F. procumbens* is a common ground cover in the PNW. It is hardy and perky and easy to grow. It also has the only yellow in the genus, and that's only in the tube.
Section ENCLIANDRA- Mexico & Central America. (6 species; 14 taxa) *F. cylindracea* has wee, cylindrical blossoms.	*F. ravenii* Fuchsias from this section cross so easily that it is very difficult to find true species today.
Section ELLOBIUM- Mexico to Central America. (4 taxa) While F. splendens is fairly winter hardy, it likes to bloom in early spring in the PNW when it's too cold. Note the pinch in the tube.	Finding a true F. fulgens is very difficult, but there are a lot of hybrids with it in their backgrounds.
Section KIERSCHLEGERIA- Chile (1 species) *F. lycioides*- Chile. (Roberto Andres Valenzuela Castillo)

Section QUELUSIA- Brazil & Chile This section is the best-known section in the PNW because the species are winter hardy to varying degrees and some of the plants have historical significance. (9 species; 11 taxa) Many gardeners think that they have the species F. magellanica, but they probably have a hybrid of it. The species is very hardy, floriferous and a sturdy plant.	*F. magellanica* "Alba" or "Molinae" is a light pink mutation of the otherwise red over purple species. It is also very hardy and grows to about 6' in the PNW where it freezes and up to the roof top where it doesn't. F. magellanica grows in Chile (29°S- 71°S) and western Argentina.
F. alpestris and all of this section are in cultivation in the PNW. Other than F. magellanica, they all grow in Brazil.	Another very hardy species, F. bracelinea, is in bloom in June, and it is lax and good in a rockery.
*F. brevilobis* has a very attractive blossom.	*F. campos-portoi* has small blossoms, leaves and plant growth. Its short little tube looks like a B-B.
F. coccinea and *F. magellanica* are believed to be the first fuchsias in cultivation in Europe, around 1733! Their similarities led to much confusion.	F. glazioviana has shiny, glazed leaves although that is not how it got its name.
F. hatschbachii is very hardy and has long, thin leaves.	There are four regias. F. regia subsp. regia grows very fast and can be used to climb. It has the largest blossoms in this section.
	The hardiest regia is F. regia subsp. reitzii. It will layer and go where it wants.
The lax stems with large, yellow green, shiny leaves are attractive.	In the taxonomy, we don't yet know where F. regia "radicans" will go. Dr. Berry writes that he will either recognize it as a subspecies or a variety.
Section FUCHSIA- The largest section has 65 species, 67 taxa and shares the same name as the genus! These species grow in the warmer areas- Central and northern South America. They have long tubes and shorter sepals.	F. hartwegii- from Colombia
Colombia is also home to F. venusta.	The tri-colored F. denticulata became very popular in America in the 1800's as a house plant. Peru
One of the best known species in this section in the Pacific Northwest is F. boliviana var. luxurians. It has a 4" tube, large leaves and tall growth. It grows from Mexico through northern South America.	*F. boliviana* mutated while in cultivation, not in the wild. Putting its whole name here takes some space: F. boliviana var. luxurians "Alba".
F. ayavacensis grows in Peru and Ecuador.	F. campii is Ecuadorian also.
F. crassistipula is Colombian. FRI = Fuchsia Research International, Wales, now disbanded.	Bolivia is F. furfuraceas's home.
F. dependens- Ecuador	Ecuador again for F. lehmannii.
F. orientalis- Ecuador	*F. scherffiana-* Ecuador
F. scabriuscula- Ecuador	F. steyermarkii- Ecuador
F. summa- Ecuador	*F. vulcanica-* Colombia & Ecuador Any question why Dr. Paul Berry refers to Ecuador as "a hotbed for species" ?
F. pringsheimii lives in the Dominican Republic.	F. santae-rosae is from Bolivia.
Ecuador, where else? F. loxensis	Colombia's F. magdalenae
To pronounce F. simplicicaulis from Peru correctly, a hiccup is required.	Another species from Ecuador, F. pallescens.
F. macrophylla from Peru.	Many wonderful hybrids have come from F. triphylla. So few of us have the true species however! Dominican Republic.