Best fuchsias for pots and containers

Purple and pink blooms of Fuchsia 'Tom Thumb' with white heather

Doing so also presents the opportunity to show off trailing fuchsias and to grow half-hardy or tender fuchsias. Those that require winter protection can be sited outdoors in summer, before moving indoors when colder weather arrives.

If you're not a fan of blowsy types, there are plenty of subtle, though no less beautiful, species fuchsias to grow. Most fuchsias will be happy growing in full sun or partial shade. However, baking afternoon sun should be avoided. Plant them in a fertile, well-drained medium that stays moist – a good home-made compost is perfect.

'Roualeyn White Gold'

The white blooms of this compact, trailing variety are enhanced by delicate pink-tipped stamens, all set against lime green foliage. 'Roualeyn White Gold' is a good choice for hanging baskets.

'New Millenium'

Like 'Roualeyn White Gold', 'New Millenium' is a trailing variety that looks lovely if allowed to gently spill over the edges of hanging baskets and pots. It has velvety, deep purple petals that are complemented by bright pink sepals.

'Celia Smedley'

'Celia Smedley' is a dense, bushy variety producing a profusion of raspberry-coloured flowers, set off by pinkish-white sepals. Good for growing in large containers and can be trained into different shapes, including standards.

'Rapunzel'

This trailing fuchsia has a reputation as one of the longest, producing stems up to 60cm long. 'Rapunzel' has pale pink sepals and fittingly royal purple petals.

'c'

'Thamar' is an upright, bushy variety with single flowers. While the sepals are white, the petals are flushed with vivid purple at the edges, fading to white in the centre.

Purple-edged white flowers of Fuchsia 'Thamar' — Purple-edged white flowers of *Fuchsia* 'Thamar'

'Tom Thumb'

'Tom Thumb' is a compact, hardy variety with flowers in the classic fuchsia colourings of fuchsia pink and rich purple. Try using this variety in container displays, combined with other plants.

Fuchsia thymifolia

The thyme-leafed fuchsia, Fuchsia thymifolia, is a lovely species with small leaves and delicate, deep pink flowers. It's not fully hardy, so will require some winter protection, but looks gorgeous growing as a specimen plant in a container.

Fuchsia triphylla

Fuchsia triphylla has long, tubular blooms, not dissimilar to many phygelius. This species and its cultivars can take more heat than most other fuchsias, so are good for containers on sunny patios. Requires frost protection.

Feed your fuchsias
Fuchsias respond very well to feeding, which is especially important if they're growing in containers as nutrients aren't so readily available and will inevitably run out. Go for a high potash feed, such as Tomorite, to encourage plenty of flowers.