Fuchsia procumbens aka New Zealand Prostrate Fuchsia

Fuchsia procumbens is a low shrub from New Zealand’s North Island. It belongs to the evening primrose family, Onagraceae. Common names include creeping fuchsia and basket fuchsia. It grows on sand, gravel, and rock near the coast. Some sites lie within reach of very high tides. Its stems trail along the ground and form a mat.

Garden size listings give a height near 0.3 feet [0.1 metres]. They list a spread of 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. The RHS description gives slightly larger dimensions. It reports about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] tall and 3.9 feet [1.2 metres] wide. The small green leaves fall in the dormant season. Sources describe their shape as heart-shaped or round, with toothed edges. Plants reach their full size in two to five years.

The flowers face up rather than hang down. Each grows alone and has a short, coloured tube. Its shades range from greenish yellow to pale orange. The sepals bend back, showing green and deep purple tones. Red-tipped stamens bear blue pollen. True petals are absent. Bright red, round berries follow the flowers. The RHS places flowering in summer. Chicago Botanic Garden lists a longer season, from January through August.

Give this plant moist soil that drains well. It accepts chalk, loam, or sand across a wide pH range. Outdoors, it grows in sun or part shade. Choose a sheltered site. Under glass, use bright, indirect light and keep compost just moist. The RHS suggests an unheated greenhouse and peat-free potting compost. Water freely outdoors in summer. Apply a general liquid feed monthly from spring through summer. Its RHS hardiness rating is H3, suited to mild coastal areas. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 9–10.

Use it as ground cover or in hanging baskets and containers. It also suits coastal gardens and sheltered borders. Propagate from spring seed or cuttings taken in spring or late summer. In frost-prone sites, the RHS advises cutting stems to ground level. Pests include aphids, capsid bugs, gall mites, flea beetles, spider mites, and vine weevils. Rust and grey mould may occur; honey fungus is less frequent. Plants For A Future lists raw fruit as edible but poor-tasting. It reports no known hazards or medicinal uses.