Brother Tim had was involved in Fuchsia clubs and societies back in the 1990s and I joined him in the Northwest Fuchsia Society for several years. During that time, we would attend all manner of Fuchsia plant sales, and encourage our friends and family to support those sales, as well. Our friend Linda purchased this fuchsia tree at one of the sales–I’m guessing maybe twenty-three years ago. She was living in a condo at the time and didn’t have a way to overwinter it, so she passed it to me. I’ve been caring for it ever since.

There is a lot to like about this tree. Cardinal is a very hardy cultivar. It comes through the winter in the greenhouse without flinching and it blooms pretty well every year. I’ve moved it up in pot size over the years, but it has been in the same pot for at least a decade.

The blooms typically arrive any time from late spring to mid-summer and last right through until the plant gets moved into the greenhouse in late October. Hummingbirds absolutely love this plant and they will seek it out, even inside the greenhouse.

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I’m surprised I don’t have more and better photos of this plant! Maybe, because it is always there, I take it for granted.

My 2020 plans for this tree are to trim it back in spring (and strike the cuttings) and turn it out of the pot, root prune it, and put fertile, good soil in the pot before placing it back inside. I will keep pinching the branches back through the early summer to help ensure a bevy of flowers for the hummers and for me! Maybe Linda will want it back one day, so I plan to keep it growing well!