Fuchsia denticulata

Fuchsia denticulata is a deciduous shrub from Peru and Bolivia. It belongs to the willowherb family, Onagraceae. Gardeners know it as toothed or saw-leaved fuchsia. It grows in damp canyons, cloud forests, and mountain scrub. These sites lie 6,560–11,810 feet [2,000–3,600 metres] above sea level. People grow it for its flowers and gather wild fruit.

In gardens, it grows about 5–13 feet [1.5–4 metres] tall. Its spread reaches 3–5 feet [1–1.5 metres]. Plants may take five to ten years to reach full size. The form depends on where the plant grows. In open sites, it stands upright or scrambles through nearby growth. In forests, climbing stems can reach 33 feet [10 metres]. The dark green leaves have paler undersides. Plants shed their leaves rather than keeping them year-round.

Small flowers hang in clusters from summer into autumn. Their waxy tubes are pale reddish pink, sometimes with green tips. The sepals range from pink to light red. The corolla adds orange to scarlet tones below them. Hummingbirds pollinate the long tubes in the wild. Insects also visit, and the plant provides food for bees. It is self-fertile. The juicy berries have a mild, tart taste. They can reach about one inch long and half an inch wide.

Give this fuchsia shelter and soil that drains well. RHS advises bright, indirect light under glass and moist compost. It also lists sun or partial shade for planting positions. Useful Tropical Plants favours shade and fertile soil near neutral pH. RHS lists loam across acid, neutral, and alkaline conditions. A cool, frost-free greenhouse or conservatory suits its tender growth. Keep container compost just moist, with less water in winter. RHS rates it H2, meaning it should not freeze. Another source reports brief frost tolerance down to −3°C. Protect it from hard frost despite that report.

The flowers give it value in sheltered, subtropical planting schemes. Pests include aphids, capsid bugs, gall mites, and flea beetles. Red spider mites and vine weevils may also attack. Possible diseases include rust, grey mould, and, less often, honey fungus. Seeds and cuttings offer ways to raise new plants. Useful Tropical Plants records raw fruit use and no known hazards. The supplied RHS toxicity label conflicts with its page text about edible berries. This evidence does not establish toxicity to people or pets. No medicinal use is recorded in the supplied sources.