Fuchsia boliviana aka Bolivian Fuchsia

Fuchsia boliviana also goes by the name Bolivian fuchsia. It belongs to Onagraceae, the evening primrose family. Its native range starts in southern Peru. It runs through Bolivia and into northern Argentina. It grows in cool Andean forests with moss and moist thickets. Records place it between 1,970 and 9,840 feet [600–3,000 metres]. Gardeners also grow it at lower sites in warm regions.

This fast-growing evergreen is an upright shrub or small tree. Its listed garden height is about 11.5 feet [3.5 metres]. Larger plants can reach about 20 feet [6 metres]. Its branches arch out and hang down from the main stem. The trunk can reach about 0.16 feet [0.05 metres] across. It keeps its leaves year-round and gives gardens a lasting woody frame. The sources give no more facts about leaf shape or bark.

Bees and hummingbirds visit the flowers. The plant can also pollinate itself. Its juicy berries taste sweet, and people can eat them raw. Each fruit may reach 0.08 feet [0.025 metres] long. People grew it as a fruit crop during the Inca era. People in Peru still gather wild fruit. They also grow the plant for ritual use. One cited account says the berries have mild narcotic effects. This claim calls for care. The same source lists no known hazards.

Choose rich soil that drains well and stays moist in summer. Add humus to keep the soil loose around the roots. Soil close to neutral suits this species. A site with some shade meets its summer needs. It also tolerates full sun. It can survive brief dry spells but prefers moist ground. Plants can endure short frosts now and then, down to about −3°C. PFAF lists it for USDA zones 9–11. These limits do not mean it can stand long spells of freezing weather.

Gardeners grow this species for its looks and its fruit. Suggested sites include a woodland edge or dappled shade. An east-facing wall is another suggested site. Grow new plants from seeds or stem cuttings. Sow seeds on the surface and keep them moist. Give them some shade. With the right conditions, seeds should sprout within six weeks. Greenwood and half-ripe cuttings root with ease in the growing season. The supplied accounts name no specific pests or diseases. They disagree on whether it could become a weed. That point remains unclear.