Pair a fuchsia

In a summer suspension

Fuchsias are the kings of hanging baskets and containers. Whether you have a balcony, terrace, window sill, or exterior wall, hang a basket to bloom all summer, from June until the first frosts. In the centre, plant a Carex to occupy vertical space, provide timeless foliage, and enhance the display. Mix colours, shapes, and habits of plants by combining the wonderful double-flowered Fuchsias such as ‘Royal Mosaïc’, ‘Holly Beauty’, ‘Voodoo’, ‘Pink Galore’, and ‘Sir Matt Busby’ with Calibrachoas featuring numerous small, colourful flowers. Fill the gaps with a trailing Begonia, and if you still have space, plant a verbena from the Endurascape series. Once the basket is planted in standard potting soil and placed in the sun, monitor watering and remove faded flowers to maintain a stunning display.

Carex oshimensis ‘Evercream’, Calibrachoa Superbells Unique Blue Violet, trailing yellow Begonia, Verbena Endurascape Hot Pink, and Fuchsia ‘Pink Galore’ (from left to right and top to bottom)

On a flower-filled balcony

Fuchsias thrive perfectly in pots, containers, or hanging baskets, in a standard substrate. Create a pot garden with original colours by mixing bicoloured Fuchsias such as ‘Rohees Millenium’, ‘Blue Sarah’, ‘Constance’, ‘Dark Eyes’, or ‘Sir Matt Busby’. Also plant a standard Fuchsia in a pot to fill a bare corner. Play with the foliage of a ivy or a Helichrysum, in shades of grey and green to create true contrasts. To complete the colour palette, grow some plants like Pelargoniums, Diascias, and Lobelias, easy-to-grow plants that all require the same care and growing conditions. Watering and deadheading will be on the agenda to keep your outdoor space looking its best all summer.

Successful mix of Fuchsia ‘Sir Matt Busby’, Bacopa, Helichrysum, Lobelia, Hedera, and Diascia (from left to right and top to bottom)

In a white planter

Fuchsias can inspire hundreds of ideas for pairing to flower your green space all summer long. They grow very well in pots, in standard compost, and the number of colourful combinations is endless. Let your imagination run wild.
Add a touch of white, a colour often overlooked, to brighten up a balcony railing or a low wall. On each side, place a Fuchsia ‘Holly Beauty’, with a trailing habit and large double flowers measuring 7 cm. Pair it with a plant of Surfinia Petunias such as ‘Snow Blanc’ or BeautiCal Pearl White, with large pure white flowers to create floral cascades. Accompany them with a Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells Trailing Ice’ with small, highly graphic flowers. Don’t forget the small trailing flowers of Lobelias and Bacopas that will add lightness. Water regularly and remove faded flowers to enjoy this monochrome planter for as long as possible.

Petunia ‘Snow Blanc’, Calibrachoa BeautiCal Pearl White, Fuchsia ‘Holly Beauty’, Bacopa ‘Gulliver Dynamic White’, Petunia Million Bells Trailing Ice and Lobelia ‘Hot White’ (from left to right and top to bottom)

In a bed of autumn colours

Alongside annual Fuchsias, you can grow perennial Fuchsias, which are more or less resistant to negative temperatures, down to -15 °C. Some, like ‘Sundancer’, should be planted in pots so they can be brought indoors in winter. For many other species, the open ground suits them perfectly. Hardy and perennial, you will keep them for many years. In a perennial bed, plant a shrub Fuchsia in the background, such as regia ‘Reitzii’ or magellanica ‘Riccartonii’, with long, pendulous bells that will bloom from July to November. Provide it with fertile, well-drained soil. Also install Sedums along the border such as ‘Herbstfreude’ or ‘Jose Aubergine’ to cultivate foliage in original colours. Don’t forget some groundcovers like Ajugas and perennials that will carpet the ground. Another idea is to combine autumn blooms such as Japanese Anemones, Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, or Rudbeckias that will add splashes of colour to the Indian summer.

Discover 7 flower beds to create for autumn.

Rudbeckia, Fuchsia regia ‘Reitzii’, Ajuga reptans, Hardy geranium, Japanese Anemone, and Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ (from left to right and top to bottom)

In a mixed border with warm tones

Along a sheltered wall, cultivate a bushy Fuchsia in the background, such as magellanica ‘Riccartonii’ or regia ‘Reitzii’. A sunny position with some dappled shade and well-drained, fertile soil will suit it. Accompany it with a Rose such as ‘Queen of the Night’, in similar tones. Plant Crocosmias that will enliven these masses with very floriferous flower stems from July to September. To add volume to this corner of the garden, place a trellis along the wall with a Clematis such as ‘Niobe’ that complements these warm-toned summer plants. Finally, to carpet the surface of the mixed border and fill in around the base of the Fuchsia and Clematis, grow an unusual ivy, ‘Kolibri’ with variegated green and cream leaves or ‘Sagittifolia’ with very graphic and bright, light green leaves.

Fuchsia magellanica ‘Riccartonii’, Crocosmia, Clematis ‘Niobe’, Rose ‘Queen of the Night’ and ivy ‘Sagittifolia’ (from left to right and top to bottom)

For further reading

• Everything you need to know about Fuchsia, check out our guide on Fuchsia cultivation and our complete range of Fuchsias and woody Fuchsias.
• To avoid any failures, we recommend planting appropriately; feel free to use our Plantfit web application!