Fuchsia Deep Purple

Fuchsia 'Deep Purple' is a sublime variety that every fuchsia collector should own. This magnificent trailing variety produces striking large double flowers. Each one has a dark blue-violet corolla skirt topped by a tube with pure white sepals. The plant forms a superb flowering cascade from early summer to autumn. This fuchsia looks stunning in hanging baskets or wall-mounted planters. It is easy to grow in partial shade, in fertile, moist and light soil. 

There are thousands of hybrid fuchsias. For the most part, they are derived from Fuchsia magellanica and F. fulgens, with occasional contributions from F. triphylla, which adds length to the flowers, characterised by thin tubes and violet-hued undersides of the leaves. All these herbaceous to woody plants, varying in hardiness and growth habit, belong to the Onagraceae family.

Fuchsia 'Deep Purple' quickly forms a compact bush with a trailing habit, wider than it is tall, reaching about 45cm (18in) in height. It blooms from May-June to October, lasting until the first frosts. Its double flowers measure up to 6cm (2in) wide. They are composed of a tube extended by 4 long and slightly curled white sepals, and a frilly corolla of wider and shorter dark violet-blue petals, nestled within the outer corolla of sepals. Long pink stamens complete the colour harmony. The stems are initially herbaceous, becoming somewhat woody as the season progresses. They bear an abundance of foliage composed of slender deciduous leaves. They are opposite, whorled in groups of 3 or 5, with entire, dentate margins, measuring 3cm (1in) in length. The lanceolate leaves are a glossy dark green. Its hardiness does not exceed -3°C (26.6°F) in open ground.  

Usually grown as an annual, Fuchsia 'Deep Purple' is a perennial that can be grown in a large pot that can be brought indoors in winter to protect it from frost. It can also grow in open ground for one season. Fuchsias pair well with the foliage of ferns, bugbanes, orange or pink heucheras, and blue or light green hostas. In a mixed container, they can be planted with dwarf ivies, lobelias, or Madagascan periwinkles. It will make a beautiful combination with a pale double variety (F. 'Pink Marshmallow') and red coleus, such as FlameThrower Salsa Roja.

Discovered in Santo Domingo in the 17th century and acclimatised in Europe, it was named Fuchsia (not Fuschia) in honour of a German botanist named Fuchs. Native to South America, botanical fuchsias have gradually multiplied. There are now believed to be tens of thousands of hybrids!