Creeping Fuchsia

Creeping Fuchsia (Fuchsia procumbens) is a ground hugging New Zealand native that spreads to about 1m across while staying under 15cm tall. Unlike the fuchsias that dangle their flowers, this one holds them upright, small yellow tubes tipped in purple. Large red berries follow and hold on the stems for weeks. It is a collector's groundcover that is also tough enough for a coastal wall top.

Why you'll love it

• It stays flat without trimming. Under 15cm tall and about 1m wide, so it runs across soil and over edges instead of mounding up.
• The flowers face upwards. Yellow tubes tipped in purple sit on top of the foliage rather than hanging beneath it.
• Berries carry the display on. Glossy red fruit follows, far larger than the blooms that made it, and holds for weeks.
• Coastal and wind tolerant. Salt air and exposed positions do not bother it, which is rare in a fuchsia and useful on a seaside block.
• Low maintenance and bee friendly. No pruning routine to keep, and bees and butterflies work the flowers through the warm months.

Where it works best

Groundcover and borders. Plant 40cm apart for a trailing groundcover. At that spacing the stems meet within a season, and the habit is tidy enough to run right up to a path edge.

Rockeries and retaining walls. Given an edge to fall over it drapes across stone and softens hard lines without ever hiding the wall.

Growing Creeping Fuchsia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade in warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It takes light frost once established, so a cold inland site wants a sheltered position. Tropical and subtropical humidity is not its climate, and gardeners in the warm north should look elsewhere.

Soil. Drainage is the one thing it insists on. Work compost through the bed before planting, and on clay build a low mound or raise the bed. Mulch lightly and keep it clear of the crown.

Water and feed. Steady moderate moisture suits it best. Water twice a week through the first summer and do not let it dry right out in a heatwave. One feed of complete slow release fertiliser in early spring carries the season.

Pruning. Almost none. Trim any runner heading where you do not want it, and cut tired stems back in late winter to bring on fresh growth.

What to expect when it arrives

This species is grown in tubes only. Tube stock arrives as a small rooted plant with a few trailing stems, the usual starting point for a groundcover and the reason it settles in quickly. Expect it to fill its 40cm allowance within a season, sooner if watered well through the first summer.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing a groundcover for your conditions
• Browse the full groundcover range
• Compare rockery plants
• Trailing plants for retaining walls

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for groundcover?

40cm apart. The stems run and root as they travel, so at that spacing the cover closes within a season without crowns competing for water.

How much frost will it take?

Light frost only, and only once established. In a hard frosting inland or tableland garden it needs the shelter of a wall or a pot that can be moved under cover.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, and it is one of the better uses for it. Choose a wide shallow bowl with drainage so the stems have a rim to spill over, and water more often than you would in the ground.

Does it flower for long?

Flowering runs through the warmer months, and because the red berries follow and persist, the plant holds interest well past the last bloom.