Fuchsia thymifolia (Thyme Leafed Fuchsia) - An erect evergreen shrub that grows to 4 to 5 feet tall (some say to 6 to 8 feet!) and spreading to slightly wider than tall with small dark luxurious green leathery leaves that have toothed margins. The half inch wide dark-pink flowers dangle from branches in profusion from mid-summer into fall.
This plant performs best in part sun to light shade with regular water and is cold hardy to about 20-25 degrees F. An attractive plant that draws humming birds to the garden but is resistant to be Fuchsia Gall Mite (Aculops fuchsiae), a tiny eriophyid mite from Brazil that devastated many Fuchsia collections worldwide.
Fuchsia thymifolia grows naturally in cloud forests of southern Mexico into northern Guatemala. The name for the genus honors the German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566) and this specific epithet is in reference to the toothed leaves that resemble those of Thyme. We grew and sold this plant from 1987 until 2013.
The information about Fuchsia thymifolia displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |