Fuchsia Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza' (d)
ABOUT
Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza', often known as lady's eardrops, is a charming flowering plant that displays a remarkable combination of vibrancy and grace. This cultivar is particularly noted for its attractive, pendulous flowers, which are a visual delight. The blooms exhibit a striking two-tone color scheme, featuring a blend of deep pink and soft purple hues. The outer petals gracefully curve back, resembling a ballet dancer's skirt, revealing the inner petals which often have a paler shade with ruffled edges. The foliage of the Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza' provides a lush backdrop to its dazzling flowers. Leaves are typically a deep green, with a slightly glossy finish and ovate shape that tapers to a point. In contrast to the flamboyant flowers, the leaves have a more understated elegance, which accentuates the overall beauty of this plant. The leaves are arranged along the stems, creating a full and bushy appearance that adds to this cultivar's ornamental charm. Lady's eardrops are favored for their graceful arching branches which cascade downwards, making them particularly well-suited for hanging baskets or elevated planters, where their trailing habits can be fully appreciated. The branches add a delicate, weeping effect to the plant's structure, lending a sense of movement and flow to any garden setting. Colorful and eye-catching, the Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza' is a delightful addition to any outdoor or indoor space, bringing with it a touch of elegance and the allure of its unique floral display. The cascade of blooms remains a centerpiece from late spring through early fall, ensuring a prolonged season of visual enjoyment.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Onagraceae
Synonyms
Hardy Fuchsia, Lady's Eardrops
Common names
Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza'
ToxicityTo humans
Fuchsia, including the 'Sarah Eliza' cultivar, is generally considered non-toxic to humans. Ingesting parts of the fuchsia plant typically does not lead to serious poisoning in humans. However, consuming any plant material may lead to discomfort or an adverse reaction in some individuals, including potential gastrointestinal upset such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It's always advisable to avoid eating ornamental plants due to the potential for individual sensitivities or the presence of pesticides.
To pets
Fuchsia, including the 'Sarah Eliza' cultivar, is generally recognized as non-toxic to pets such as cats and dogs. Ingesting parts of the fuchsia plant is unlikely to cause serious harm to pets, but, as with humans, consumption of non-food plants can sometimes result in mild gastrointestinal upset, including symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea. If you notice your pet has consumed a considerable amount of the plant and is exhibiting these or any other symptoms, it is best to consult with a veterinarian.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Mixed
Height
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Spread
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
9
Native area
Central America
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic appeal: Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza' provides vibrant color and unique, pendulous flowers that enhance the beauty of gardens and landscapes.
- Attracts pollinators: The plant is known to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, supporting local ecosystems.
- Versatility: It can be used in hanging baskets, containers, and as a bedding plant, offering flexibility in garden design.
- Shade tolerance: This cultivar is suitable for partially shaded areas, where many other flowering plants may not thrive as well.
- Continuous blooming: Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza' flowers from late spring to the first frost, ensuring a long display of blossoms.
- Easy propagation: The plant can be easily propagated from cuttings, allowing gardeners to create more plants for free.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Fuchsia can be used as a natural dye, giving fabrics and yarn a soft pink or light purple hue when the flowers are processed correctly.
- The fuchsia plant may serve as a living art display, with creative gardeners training its branches into ornamental shapes or even living sculptures.
- It's possible to use the plants for educational purposes, such as teaching botany or horticulture due to the plant's interesting reproductive biology and flower structure.
- Some enthusiasts may cultivate fuchsia plants like 'Sarah Eliza' for competitive showing, taking great care to produce the most aesthetically pleasing specimens for garden shows.
- Fuchsias can be used in thematic gardens, such as fairy or miniature gardens, due to their delicate flowers and appealing growth habit.
- Gardeners may attract and sustain local pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies by incorporating fuchsias into their landscaping.
- The dropping branches of the fuchsia can be used to create privacy screens or living curtains in outdoor areas when grown densely.
- As a tool for mindfulness or meditation practices, some people may focus on the intricate details of the fuchsia flower to aid in concentration and relaxation.
- The vibrant flowers could be incorporated into non-traditional bouquets or floral arrangements to add a touch of whimsy and vivid color.
- Enthusiasts of bonsai may use fuchsia plants to create miniature tree-like representations, exploiting the plant's natural tendency to form woody stems.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Fuchsia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Fuchsia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Confiding Love: Fuchsias often embody the notion of confiding love, where the drooping shape of their flowers symbolizes trust and long-term commitment.
- Good Taste: The elegant and graceful appearance of fuchsias is commonly associated with good taste and sophistication in traditional flower language.
- Amenability: Given the plant's versatility and variety of growing environments, fuchsias can symbolize amiability and adaptability.
- Warning: In some cultural interpretations, fuchsias can represent a warning, with their unique, bell-like blossoms signaling caution or attentiveness.
WaterFor Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza', commonly known as hardy fuchsia, it is essential to maintain consistently moist soil without waterlogging it. During the growing season, usually spring through summer, water thoroughly when the top inch of the soil feels dry, approximately every 7 to 10 days. Apply about one gallon of water per watering session for a medium-sized plant in an outdoor garden. In hot weather or when planted in containers, water may be required more frequently. Decrease watering in the fall and winter, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings.
LightHardy fuchsia thrives in partial shade with bright but indirect light. The ideal location is one where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled sunlight throughout the day, avoiding the intense midday sun which can scorch its leaves. A spot under taller plants or trees that provide filtered light works well for these conditions.
TemperatureHardy fuchsia prefers a temperate climate with temperatures ranging between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive short periods of temperatures as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit but should be protected from frost. Ideal growth is observed when the temperature does not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but they can tolerate a bit higher if in a shady environment.
PruningPruning hardy fuchsia encourages bushy growth and more flowers. Prune in late winter to early spring before new growth starts. Remove dead or weak branches and cut back a third of the previous year's growth to stimulate new buds. Annual pruning keeps the plant healthy and maintains its shape.
CleaningAs needed
SoilFuchsia 'Sarah Eliza' prefers a well-draining soil mix consisting of loam, peat moss, and sand in equal parts to ensure proper moisture retention and aeration. The ideal soil pH for Fuchsia plants is slightly acidic, ranging from 6 to 7.
RepottingFuchsia 'Sarah Eliza', commonly known as Fuchsia, should be repotted every 2-3 years, or when the plant outgrows its current container, to refresh the soil and provide space for root growth.
Humidity & MistingFuchsia 'Sarah Eliza' thrives in high humidity levels, ideally around 60-70%. Maintaining these humidity conditions is crucial for the plant's health.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Provide bright, indirect light and keep in a cool spot.
Outdoor
Place in dappled shade, sheltered from strong winds.
Hardiness zone
6-11 USDA
Life cycleFuchsia 'Sarah Eliza' begins its life as a seed, which, when planted in well-drained soil with partial shade to full sun, will germinate to produce a small seedling. The seedling then goes through a period of vegetative growth, where it develops a strong root system and foliage. As it matures, the plant enters the flowering stage, producing distinctive, pendulous flowers with a combination of purple and pink hues, typically blooming in spring and summer. After pollination, usually aided by hummingbirds or insects attracted to the flowers, it sets fruit in the form of small berries. These fruits may fall to the ground and decompose or be eaten by wildlife, dispersing the seeds within, which can give rise to new plants if they land in favorable conditions. The plant can survive for several years, going through annual cycles of growth, flowering, and dormancy, especially if protected from hard frosts and extreme winter conditions.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Propogation: Fuchsia 'Sarah Eliza', commonly known as fuchsia, is typically propagated using softwood cuttings. This involves cutting a piece of stem from the fuchsia plant that is not yet hard, typically in the spring or early summer when plant growth is vigorous. Choose a healthy stem that has a few leaves on it and cut it to about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) in length. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting, and if you wish, dip the cut end in rooting hormone to encourage root growth. The cutting should be placed in a well-drained soil mix, kept moist but not waterlogged, and ideally kept under a humidity dome or plastic wrap to retain moisture. A warm environment is favorable, and roots usually begin to form within a few weeks. Once rooted, the cuttings can be transplanted into individual pots to grow into new fuchsia plants.
