Fuchsia - Firecracker

Light the fuse! Fuchsia triphylla ‘Firecracker’ is a joyful explosion of color from leaf tip to dangling bloom. Its lush green leaves are generously edged in creamy white and traced with deep crimson veins, while the newest growth arrives delightfully flushed with pink. As if that foliage weren’t already putting on enough of a show, clusters of slender red to red-orange flowers dance from the branches like tiny glowing firecrackers—and the display keeps coming for months!

This bushy, upright Fuchsia generally grows 18–30" tall and wide, making it an irresistible focal point for containers, shaded borders and sheltered patios. The narrow, pendant flowers appear from late spring or early summer into fall, especially when the plant is kept evenly moist and protected from extreme heat. Plant it in rich, fertile, well-drained soil with bright shade, part shade or gentle morning sun. Regular water will keep its velvety foliage looking lush, but avoid soggy soil and harsh afternoon sun in hot inland gardens.

Hardy in USDA zones 10–11 and sometimes successful in protected parts of zone 9, ‘Firecracker’ should be treated as a tender perennial or warm-season annual where winters are colder. It also makes an excellent container specimen that can be moved to a frost-free location for winter. The long, nectar-rich flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds, while the wildly variegated foliage looks fabulous alongside dark-leaved Heucheras, feathery ferns, Coleus, Begonias and other shade-loving companions.

Bring even more color, movement and hungry little wings into your garden with our Hummingbird Favorites collection.