Plant Information Semi-double, upright, 24" bush, Hardy in USDA hardiness zone 7A Red-purple tube and sepals. Corolla opens dark purple, then matures to ruby-merlot. Smallish semi-double blossom have a number of petaloids. Use as a small landscape border plant. It is hardy, planted in the ground, in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. It also a nice variety to grow as a lone upright bush in a container. Early Care of Your New Fuchsia Plant shipped will come in a 2" pot. Transplant immediately to a larger pot (4" to 6") using a well-draining, all purpose, potting soil. Water thoroughly. Do not let the soil dry completely nor allow the plant to sit in soggy soil. Keep plant protected from freeze and frost. For best results, fertilize regularly with a container friendly product following the manufactures directions for use. Water soluble, slow release, and organic products are all acceptable choices. Place the plant in a well lit area. The plant will grow better in a brighter spot than shady. It will be best protected from the hot afternoon sun. Keep protected from the wind. Planting and Care of a Hardy Fuchsia in the Ground DebRon's Ruby Gems has been hardiness tested and has performed well in areas that can drop down to 0 to 10 degrees F as a winter low. Planted in a climate that experiences winter freezing, the vegetative part of a fuchsia will freeze down to the soil level through the winter. In the Spring when the soil warms, the plant will grow and revegetate from the underground plant structure. Hardiness refers to plants planted in the ground. Fuchsias planted in containers must be winter protected to keep the entire root ball from freezing. Fuchsias planted in the ground can tolerate a lot of sunlight. They will grow bushier and flower more with more sun than they do with more shade. The best location is one where it gets full morning sun and protected with a little shade in the hot afternoon hours. The planting area should be one that is well drained, and has no standing water through any time of the year. It should be located in an area of the garden that is regularly watered. Fuchsias will not tolerate totally dry soil. Once your new plant has grown to sufficient size in its 6" pot, it can be transplanted to its garden location. Planting your fuchsia in the ground can occur after the threat of frost is past, and the soil has warmed. Typical planting time is mid-May through June. If Fall planted, make sure planting occurs 6-8 weeks prior to your typical first frost. The fuchsia should be planted deep, with the plant being sunk into the ground 4-6 inches deeper than it was in its pot. Incorporate organic matter (compost, potting soil, peat moss, alfalfa pellets) along with an all-purpose fertilizer in the bottom of the hole and into the backfill. A recommendation would be 1 cup of compost and 1/8 cup of 16-16-16 fertilizer mixed thoroughly in the bottom of the hole. Thoroughly mix another 1 cup of compost and 1/8 cup of 16-16-16 fertilizer in the backfill for pulling in around your plant. In the Fall prior to your first Frost, your fuchsia will benefit from a layer of loose mulch (bark mulch, shredded leaves, etc.) applied around the base of the plant. It is best to allow the plant to freeze and die back before trimming or pruning much on the plant. It may be trimmed a bit to reduce winter wind whip, but similar to roses, leave the major pruning until late-Winter.
