What is Fuchsia?
Fuchsia refers to a genus of about 100 varieties of flowering shrubs and other plants native to South and Central America, New Zealand, and Tahiti. Some varieties have also been naturalized in areas of Ireland and Great Britain. Fuchsia is often grown for its decorative flowers, which hang down from the branches and are said to resemble elegant earrings. Most fuchsia plants are low growing shrubs ranging from 0.2 to 4 meters (about 0.6 to 13 feet) in height, but one notable tree variety native to New Zealand can reach a height of 15 meters (nearly 50 feet). The leaves of the fuchsia plant may be evergreen or deciduous, depending on the particular species. Fuchsia flowers have four long and slender sepals surrounding four shorter petals and long stamens. They range in color from white to dark purple and may also be bright pink, red, orange, or yellow. Most fuchsia flowers feature a combination of two or more colors. The color and shape of the flowers originally evolved to appeal to the
