Fuchsia is a genus of more than 100 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees in the family Onagraceae, native to Central America and South America.
Fuchsia is greatly appreciated for its highly ornamental, attractive and usually pendant flowers in combinations of red, white, pink and purple. Today, fuchsia is one of the most cultivated ornamental plants in the world.
These plants were discovered at the end of 17th century and named in honor of the famous German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566).
Fuchsia is a symbol of elegance, good taste, confiding love and amiability.
While Fuchsia usually grows in the form of shrub, Fuchsia excorticata can also grow as a tree.
Fuchsia excorticata is a large shrub or small spreading tree, native to New Zealand. It grows throughout the country in shady, moist areas.
Fuchsia is a mixture of red and purple, named for the flower of the same name.
The color has become popular as a fashion color. The shade “Hollywood Cerise”, also known as “Fashion Fuchsia”, is a bright pink color with cool mauve undertones. The color is popular for women’s lipstick and women’s clothing in general.
Fuchsia often gets confused with the color magenta. The term is incorrectly used to describe bright, purple-pink color, also known as magenta. There are many who believe fuchsia to be a variation of magenta, but it is considered that fuchsia tends to have more of a purple hue to it.
The Fuchsia can survive for hundreds of years. In fact, the oldest one was planted in 1899 and it still lives in California, USA.
Maori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, were using blue pollen from the flowers of Fuchsia excorticata as a source of make-up.
Fruit of fuchsia are berries, filled with numerous miniature seed. They are usually consumed in the form of jam.
