Bella Lydia Fuchsia

Bella Lydia Fuchsia (Fuchsia x hybrida 'Bella Lydia') is a compact, semi-trailing fuchsia bred for hanging baskets and patio pots. It stays around 30 to 45cm tall and wide, and its hanging bell flowers pair red outer petals with a soft purple centre. It does its best work in dappled shade, where plenty of flowering plants struggle.

Why you'll love it

• Bred for baskets and pots. The Bella range stays low, rounded and bushy, so one plant fills a container without sprawling into its neighbours.
• Semi-trailing habit. Lydia arches a little over the rim of a pot or basket, which puts extra flowering stems around the edge instead of only on top.
• Two-tone bell flowers. Red outer petals flare like a star above a lighter purple inner bell. The contrast stands out in the low light of a shaded corner.
• Free flowering. Bells hang from the stem ends right through the growing season, on a plant that stays bushy and full.
• Small enough for any space. At 45cm at most it suits balconies, entryways and the front of a shaded bed, and it can come indoors for a season of colour.

Where it works best

Hanging baskets and patio pots. Use a good potting mix in a container at least 25cm across and keep it out of hot afternoon sun. The semi-trailing stems soften the rim as the plant fills out.

Front of a shaded bed. Plant 40cm apart along the front of a garden bed in dappled shade, under trees or on the shadier side of the house, and mulch to hold moisture.

Indoor colour. A bright room out of direct sun suits it for a season of flowers, which is handy in cold climates where it has to come inside for winter anyway.

Growing Bella Lydia Fuchsia in Australia

Position and climate. Part sun or shade, with shelter from hot midday sun. Lydia is frost tender. In subtropical and warm temperate gardens a sheltered spot outdoors is enough, while in cold climates it should come indoors for winter or be grown as seasonal colour.

Soil. Use a free draining potting mix for containers, or a garden bed enriched with compost. Mulch the surface to keep the roots cool and moist.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the growing season, because a fuchsia that dries out drops its buds. A new plant takes around 12 weeks to establish. Feed with a liquid fertiliser through the warm months, or use a slow release fertiliser in spring and again in summer.

Pruning. In winter, cut the plant back, reduce watering and keep it in a cool, shady, frost free spot. It shoots again when spring warms up.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Bella Lydia Fuchsia as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Expect a small, leafy plant rather than one in full flower. Pot it up or plant it out on arrival, keep it moist, and it grows towards its 30 to 45cm size over the warm months.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants for partial shade
• More plants that thrive in pots
• Browse all flowering plants
• Shade gardening in Australia: what to plant where

Common questions

Does Bella Lydia need full shade?

No. It prefers dappled shade, or part sun with shelter from hot midday sun. Strong summer sun in the middle of the day is the one thing to avoid.

What do I do with it over winter?

Cut it back, water less and shelter it in a cool, shady, frost free spot. In frosty areas that means indoors or under cover, because Lydia is frost tender.

Will it trail properly in a hanging basket?

It is semi-trailing, so it arches over the rim rather than hanging in long curtains. That gives a full, rounded basket with flowers all the way around.