If you are growing Fuchsia then you may have noticed something curious that can sometimes happen to their leaves, sometimes they turn red. But why do Fuchsia leaves turn red? Let’s have a look and find out exactly what is going on.
So, why do Fuchsia leaves turn red?
Red leaves in a Fuchsia are caused by a build-up of anthocyanins in the leaves of the fuchsia. This is normally caused by sunny days but cold nights, so common spring weather in the UK!
The anthocyanins build up in the leaves during sunny days but then the process to get rid of them slows down during cold nights, so they build up in the leaves, causing them to turn red.
Many people commonly believe fuchsia leaves turn red due only to cold nights, and while this is partially true it is not the complete picture. It is the combination of warmer sunny days immediately followed by crisp cold nights.
As you have probably already thought yourself that sounds a lot like spring weather in the UK. it can be quite nice and sunny during the day before the weather turns really cold overnight.
So if you are struggling with red fuchsia leaves it probably means you have moved your fuchsia outside too early and it needs more protection. Either move it somewhere sheltered like a greenhouse until the nighttime temperatures warm-up or try and protect it with a fleece.
How do I fix it?
There is no way to fix leaves that have already turned red, once they have gone red they will stay so. New growth will be the usual green however.
So all you can do is wait for new growth to appear. Once you have plenty of new growth you can begin to remove the old red leaves but don’t go too harsh here, remove them gradually.
More on Fuchsia
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.