Fuchsias – Exotic Beauties for Balcony and Garden

Fuchsias are truly something special. Although they look very exotic—and indeed are—they feel very comfortable here and are among the most popular garden plants overall.

It’s no wonder, then, that fuchsias can be found in the gardens of many plant lovers. With their bell-shaped flowers, they attract not only fascinated glances from plant enthusiasts but are also gladly visited by bees and other pollinators.

Many balcony owners often have to make do because they don’t have a large garden available. But that’s not the case with fuchsias. They are also very well suited for balconies and feel quite comfortable there when placed in the right spot. Of course, when it comes to balcony planting, the first choice is usually a window box. But fuchsias can do much more than just look good in a window box. Hanging varieties look fantastic in a flower basket. This can be hung from the ceiling, and suddenly many small bell-shaped flowers seem to be hanging down from the sky.

A particularly beautiful effect is created by connecting two balcony walls from which the fuchsias can cascade down. By the way, fuchsias also come as standard trees, so the little flowers don’t just hang from above—they also grow into the space. The design possibilities with fuchsias on the balcony are huge, and anyone who takes a bit of time to plan their balcony layout will find many ways to showcase these exotic beauties perfectly.

Fuchsias don’t just look great on the balcony—they also really stand out on the terrace. They’re especially striking when planted alone with minimal underplanting. If you have stairs on your terrace, they can be wonderfully decorated with fuchsias. These plants come in various colors ranging from pink and red to purple and white. Using pots that match the flower colors, you can decorate a staircase with several fuchsias.

If you don’t have a real staircase, you can use a plant stand shaped like stairs instead. Placing a pretty lantern next to it or even using a standard fuchsia tree completes the terrace decoration perfectly. Hanging fuchsias look fantastic in a pavilion as well. They can be hung from the roof in hanging baskets, or planted in old drawers that are then mounted on the wall. This way, not only do the fuchsias really stand out, but you also finally get rid of grandma’s old dresser!

It is often said that fuchsias cannot tolerate sun and therefore need a partially shaded or shady spot. This is partly true for fuchsias grown in pots, but it depends on the circumstances. Factors like neighboring plants and humidity play a role. Plants generally need more water in the sun than in the shade, and fuchsias also have a higher water requirement when exposed to sunlight.

In general, potted fuchsias should be protected from direct sun. The root ball must not overheat, so pots that warm up quickly should be shielded from the sun. On the other hand, fuchsias planted directly in the ground are much more tolerant of sunlight. Fuchsias planted in a sunny spot in the garden even bloom more abundantly than those in shade. However, the root area should remain shaded. This works best when the fuchsia is underplanted with simple groundcover plants such as ivy, pachysandra, or periwinkle.