Fuchsias are a staple of British gardens, these perennial shrubby plants are found everywhere. Grown for their bright flowers, which with a little attention can flower all summer, and hardiness for those cold British winters. The first written description of a Fuchsia comes from 1690 by the French monk Minim after he discovered them on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. There are over 100 different types of Fuchsia, most of them originating from South America. With a little care and attention, they can look good year after year in UK gardens.

Close up of fuchsia flowers
How to prune fuchsia
Pruning fuchsia is essential for a strong, healthy plant with lots of beautiful blooms. You will get natural dieback at wintertime every year but I like to prune on top of this.
Fuchsia plants flower on new growth, so if you want plenty of blooms then you need to prune back aggressively. In fact, sometimes you can prune your fuchsia all the way back to stumps depending on the variety.
Prune in the spring, never in the winter. if you prune your fuchsia down in winter you will be opening it up to disease and rot. You don’t want to give the wounds time to fester if you cut in spring before the plant bursts into life then there will be much less time for disease to enter the plant.
Pruning to create a standard
A fuchsia standard is a beautiful way of growing a fuchsia. You end up with a long straight barren woody stem leading to a large flowering top. To achieve this look requires a lot of pruning, but with patience, you can get there and the reward is well worth it.
You need to grow your main stem upright, use a chain for support and tie this stem in regularly as it grows skyward. During this phase of growth, you will need to remove all side shoots while leaving the head of the plant to provide energy for future growth.
Once you are happy with the growth of your main stem it will be time to start growing out the head at the top. You need to let a few set of leaves grow out of each side shoot here before pinching out the shoot. I normally try to aim for 4-6 leaves. You then just keep going with this method, rounding out the head of the plant.
Recommended Reading
Different Types of Fuchsia
There are over 100 species of Fucshia and as such there are many different types of Fuchsia that thrive in all sorts of different conditions.
Fuchsia plant sun or shade?
Does a fuchsia plant like sun or shade? or maybe a bit of both? Read on to find out the perfect growing conditions for fucshia.
How to revive a Fuchsia plant
If your Fuchsia no longer looks as good as it once did you needn't panic, there lots of things you can do to revive a Fuchsia plant
How to keep fuchsia flowering
tips and tricks to prolong a Fuchsias flowering time. So read on to find out just how to keep Fuchsia flowering.
Are Fuchsias Perennial?
Yes, Fuchsias are a perennial that if well cared for will come back year after year.
When to cut fuchsia for winter
Simply put, you don’t! Do not prune Fuchsia for winter. If you cut a fuchsia for winter you will be inviting pests, disease and rot