Fuchsia triphylla was the first fuchsia discovered and described by Charles Plumier on Hispaniola in about 1696-97. It was only many years later the first fuchsia species was brought to Europe. Soon after the first fuchsia species were available gardeners started crossing. Initially mainly F. coccinea, F. macrostemma and F. arborescens were used resulting in single flowered cultivars in red and purple colour shades. The first, real result of significance was a cultivar with a white calyx. This was ‘Venus Victrix’ by Gulliver from 1842. It is believed that the white calyx was the result of a sport. Other milestones in fuchsia cultivar history are the introduction of the first semidouble (Duplex, Story UK 1848) and double (Multiplex, Story UK 1850).

Many cultivars have been introduced on the market since the middle of the nineteenth century. A lot of them are no longer in culture. They exist only as ghosts in cultivar databases with no more than a basic description available.

For some cultivars we are lucky to still have drawings derived from old plant publications. In the menu subsections you will find pictures showing old and often long forgotten beauties of the past. You will no doubt be surprised to also discover drawings of cultivars that have stood the test of time. Some of the mid nineteenth century cultivars are still very popular today. Fuchsia species names have changed over the centuries. You will notice species names that are no longer in use.