Fuschia Magellanica

Does anyone have this growing in their garden? Information says it has a height and spread of about six feet/two metres and has arching branches. Also that it should be pruned almost to the ground every year. Can someone confirm or dispute that please?

I'm looking for an upright Fuschia of about the same height and colour but arching branches and yearly pruning are putting me off 'Magellanica'.

Edit: The Fuschia must be hardy.

 

It’s not should but could/can. If you want the shrub to grow to its natural full height and are happy with its shape then there is no need to prune it at all.

 

I think its the one people often use as an informal hedge, so you can basically do what you like with it.
A harsh winter could cut it back to the ground but its pretty tough.

 

Thanks Butterfly6 and Pete. The position it would be planted in is close to the path access to my back garden, so with arching branches I think it will be an obstruction. Time to re-think.

 

I have several of these in my garden, they grow 3 - 4 feet high and about 2 - 3 ft wide. I thin the stems out in the spring and cut some back, and it has lots of side branches and that tend to become a bit of a tangle if left alone.
Yes it has arching branches so would not be a good thing to plant close to a path, it's better at that back of a border or in a corner. There are many other hardy Fuchsias to be had but most are smaller, and they would all require cutting back in the spring.

 

Thanks @Michael Hewett. I want something upright to disguise the garden wall. Most of the shrubs in the garden are Spring flowering so summer flowering (and not white) is a must. I think I'll have to re-visit the idea of a Buddleja.

 

@Sheal, Abelia Grandiflora 'Edward Goucher' although can have arching stems if you allow it to just grow, but the evergreen shrub (semi-evergreen if planted in exposed or colder areas), is easily controlled by shaping and pruning to keep it more narrow or upright. Sometimes used as hedging plant. I think it's more reliable than Fuchsia magellanica.

 

The hardy magellanica fuchsias and the variants can put on a remarkable amount of growth in a season if you live somewhere mild (so they start growing earlier and finish later) and wet. You can prune as much or as little as you like but the less you prune, the bigger they'll get. There might be a bit of dieback in a very very harsh winter but otherwise they'll start growing from below where you cut.

 

Thank you @The Eden. The shrub would have been a possibility if it wasn't pink. I should have mentioned that in my previous post. Sorry, I don't like anything pink and I'm going against white because most shrubs in the garden have white flowers. There's a pink Camellia in full bloom in the garden at the moment and it bugs me every time I look at it.

 

Thank you too @JennyJB. It grows wild all over the Isle of Man where I lived before moving to Scotland and didn't take much notice of it there. I like the colours of the flowers but its growth rate has put me off for the area I was considering. I would be continually pruning to keep the path clear.

 

F.magellanica is a thug in my experience so I was going to suggest the much tidier variety 'Hawkshead'. Then I got to this post.......

 

You might find this site useful though....

Home - FuchsiaFinder

 

Thanks for the link @longk. I've had a quick look and a number of them don't seem to be available from nurseries, so some in depth searching on the site will be necessary.

Ideally with a Fuschia it would have to be a minimum height of 4ft, preferably nearer 6ft but many of them are smaller than that. Colour red, red/purple, red/blue.

Edit: It will be planted in front of a 6ft stone garden wall.