Fuchsia is a staple hanging plant, perfect for containers on shady porches. Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies can’t resist the flowers, and the plant generously produces spectacular blooms for months. They’re an ideal choice if you find strong fragrances off-putting, as they’re practically odorless. Hardy fuchsias come in a range of colors (we’re partial to the blaze orange of F.magellanica ‘Aurea’ (delicious against the lime green foliage of Japanese forest grass) and the babysoft pink flowers and variegated foliage of F. magellanica var. molinae ‘Sharpitor Aurea.’
Care: Water regularly for the first few years, but then some varieties become water-wise. Keep shoots pinched if you like a bushier plant, and prune back in the spring to control the shape. F. magellanica varieties are the most cold-hardy. They like an organic soil, and mulching will help protect plants in the winter.