Genii hardy fuchsia

Shrub

Fuchsia ‘Genii’

Genii hardy fuchsia

Also known as: Fuchsia 'Jeane'

A hardy fuchsia grown as much for its bright lime-yellow leaves on red stems as for its small cerise and purple flowers.

  • Full sun, Partial shade
  • 60–90 cm (24–35 in)
  • 50–75 cm (20–30 in)
  • H4 · Zone 8
  • July–October
  • Deciduous
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Overview

This old hardy fuchsia makes an upright, bushy shrub with striking golden-lime leaves set on red stems, at their brightest in a sunny spot. From midsummer to autumn it carries small, dangling single flowers with cerise sepals and reddish-purple petals, popular with bees. It is hardy through most of the UK and similar climates (about -10°C / 14°F). In cold winters it dies back to the ground but reshoots from the base, especially when planted deeply.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun, Partial shade
Height 60–90 cm (24–35 in)
Spread 50–75 cm (20–30 in)
Hardiness H4 · Zone 8
Flowers July–October
Soil Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture Moist well drained
Habit Bushy, Upright
Water Moderate
Maintenance Easy

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature -10°C (14°F)
pH Range 5.5–7.5
Fertility Fertile
Drainage Free Draining

Aspect Suitability

  • East-facing
  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Site Tolerance

  • Coastal

Soil Tolerance

  • Clay
  • Chalk
  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Fuchsia ‘Genii’ (Genii hardy fuchsia)
Fuchsia ‘Genii’ (Genii hardy fuchsia)
Persistence Deciduous
Colour Lime green, Yellow
Leaf shape / texture ovate

Foliage interest: April–November

Seasonal Timeline

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Flowering
Foliage
Fruiting
Propagate
  • Flowering Jul Aug Sep Oct
  • Foliage Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
  • Fruiting Sep Oct Nov
  • Propagate Apr May Jun Jul Aug

How to propagate

One way to grow more Genii hardy fuchsia: the usual steps for each method.

Softwood cuttings Apr–Aug Takes a little care

You'll need: Clean, sharp secateurs or a knife, small pots, gritty compost (half compost, half grit or perlite), a plastic bag, and rooting powder if you have it.

  1. Early in the morning, cut soft, non-flowering shoot tips about 5 to 10 cm long, and keep them in a plastic bag so they don't wilt.
  2. Trim each one just below a leaf joint and take off the lower leaves, leaving two or three at the top.
  3. Dip the cut end in rooting powder if you have some.
  4. Push them into the edge of a pot of gritty compost so their leaves don't touch, and water them in.
  5. Cover with a clear bag or put them in a propagator, somewhere bright but out of direct sun.
How long
Roots in about 3 to 6 weeks.
It's worked when
New growth at the tips, and roots showing through the pot's holes.
Then
Pot each one up on its own and grow it on. Keep young plants frost-free through their first winter.

Soft shoot tips root very easily in spring and summer in moist compost.

Maintenance Calendar

  • Apr Cut last year's stems back to strong new buds near the base, as flowers form on this year's growth
  • May Plant new fuchsias 5cm deeper than they were in the pot, so buried buds survive winter and reshoot
  • Jun Check shoot tips for the distorted growth caused by fuchsia gall mite, and cut out affected tips
  • Nov Leave the stems unpruned and mulch the base, protecting the crown from frost

Garden Design

Works well in: Cottage, Modern / Contemporary, Wildlife-friendly

The lime leaves brighten partly shaded borders and contrast beautifully with dark purple foliage and blue flowers.

Companion planting: Purple foliage, Blue flowers, Ferns, Hydrangeas

Wildlife Value

  • Bees
  • Other pollinators

Safety

Not toxic; fuchsia berries are edible, though bland.