FUCHSIAS VHT112

Set up Your Own Fuchsia Nursery

Learn everything you ever wanted to know about fuchsias, from soil management and feeding to pruning and propagation. Learn how fuchsias are classified into several major groups, the characteristics of those groups and how/where to grow different types to achieve the best results.

Become an expert at identifying and growing Fuchsias

  • Extend your horticultural knowledge and skills
  • Follow a passion
  • Work in nursery, landscaping or gardening

Course Structure:

Eight lessons as follows:

1. Introduction
2. Culture -Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest & disease, feeding, etc.
3. Propagation
4. The Most Commonly Grown Varieties.
5. Other Important Groups.
6. The Lesser Grown Varieties
7. Using Fuchsias -hanging baskets, topiary, container plants, tubs, espaliers etc.
8. Special Assignment - On one selected plant or group.

Duration: 100 hours

Course Aims

  • Identify different Fuchsias
  • Describe the culture of Fuchsias
  • Propagate Fuchsias
  • Describe the identification and culture of commonly grown Fuchsias
  • Compare a range of commonly grown Fuschias.
  • Discuss different lesser cultivated varieties of Fuchsias
  • Determine and explain a variety of ways Fuchsias may be used.
  • Discuss one aspect of Fuchsia cultivation in depth.

Scope of Fuchsia Growing

There are approximately 100 species of fuchsias and many thousands of hybrids and varieties. They are native to Central and South America from Mexico to Patagonia. Some are native to Tahiti and Fiji.

Fuchsias can be classified into species, hybrids and varieties, or alternatively grouped according to growth habit as follows:

  1. Bushes (also called small uprights). These are low, strongly branching shrubs.
  2. Shrubs - these are taller shrubs or small trees, some of which can grow to 5 metres or more.
  3. Standards - trained to grow on a single stem, or trunk; with branching commencing at no less than 79cm from the ground and no more than 107cm from the ground. The top is generally trained to form a well shaped round ball. Creepers (ie. rockery types) are sometimes grafted onto the top of a taller stem to produce a weeping standard.
  4. Rockery Plants (creepers or basket plants) - fuchsias which spread out low to the ground, used in rockeries; sometimes used in baskets, spreading and hanging over the sides.
  5. Espalier - the plant is trained to grow on a single two dimensional plane, either against a wall or fence, or using stakes in a pot.

Note: other methods of training (like espalier and standard) are used to produce "Pyramid", Pillar" and "Fan" types.


Scientific Classification of Fuchsia

There are around 120 different species of fuchsias; and thousands of named cultivars. They are scientifically classified into a series of "sections" as follows:

The genus Fuchsia is commonly divided into 7 sections:

1. Section Quelusia

Flower tube usually not longer than the sepals; stamens are long.  eg. Fuchsia magellanica and Fuchsia regia.

2. Section Eufuchsia (or section Fuchsia)

Tube several times longer than the sepals; stamens don't extend much beyond the sepals.  eg. Fuchsia aplendens, Fuchsia cordifolia, Fuchsia corymbiflora.

3. Section Kierschlegeria

Leaves have a thick, persistent petiole at the base, petals are almost as long as sepals, flowers are small; leaves are mainly opposite or in whorls.  eg. Fuchsia lycioides.

4. Section Skinnera

Petals either small or missing, sepals reflexed and separate, tube of the flower is funnel shaped, no longer than 1.5cm. Leaves are alternate. These are Tahitian or New Zealand natives.  eg. Fuchsia procumbens, Fuchsia colensoi, Fuchsia excorticata.

5. Section Hemsleyella

15 species originating from the northern and central Andes. Not in cultivation. Includes F. apetala, F. cestroides, F. chloroloba, F. garleppiana, F. huanucoensis, F. inflata, F. insignis, F. juntasensis, F mebranaceae, F. mezae, F. nana, F. pilaloensis, F. salicifolia, F. tillettiana, F. tunariensis.

6. Section Schufia

Flowers erect with cymose formation at growth tips. Central flowers are the first in a bunch to open.   eg. Fuchsia arborescens, Fuchsia paniculata.

7. Section Encliandra

Flowers usually pendulous (not cymose), commonly small and inconspicuous. Stamens are short.   eg. Fuchsia thymifolia, Fuchsia microphylla.