Fuchsia ‘Gartenmeister’

‘Gartenmeister’—an uncommon fuchsia

It might look like a honeysuckle but it’s actually a fuchsia—with a somewhat unusual appearance. These orange-red blooms are tubular, unlike the typical shape of a fuchsia flower, and the shrub is upright, though eventually it will become pendulous with age. Add to that the contrast of the satiny bronze-red foliage and you’ve got an eye-catching plant for full to partial shade.

Vigorous ‘Gartenmeister’ has a long, reliable bloom time so you can expect to be awash in red all through summer and into fall, up until a frost. It tolerates heat better than other fuchsias, with a normal watering schedule and an occasional misting when it gets especially hot and dry. An extra application of mulch helps keep the soil moist, and a dose of all-purpose, general fertilizer once-a-month is recommended—the standard diet for most fuchsias.

Attracts hummingbirds to a porch or patio

This selection is a mecca for hummingbirds, and it attracts butterflies and bees as well—making it an interesting choice for a porch or patio where it provides a moment of zen over a morning cup of coffee. When temps drop in fall, the plant can be successfully overwintered indoors.

‘Gartenmeister’ is available in the 8-inch pot.