Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Fuchsia 'Army Nurse'
Army Nurse Hardy Fuchsia
- Family
- Onagraceae
- Height
- 2 to 3 feet
- Width
- 2 to 3 feet
- Flower color
- Deep purple corolla with crimson-red sepals
- Foliage color
- Dark green
- Bloom time
- Summer to early fall
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 8 to 10
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
About this plant
Fuchsia 'Army Nurse' is a deciduous shrub celebrated for its elegant blooms, which appear from summer through early autumn. The flowers feature dark purple corollas and deep red sepals, creating a vibrant color contrast. These pendant blooms are not only eye-catching but also attract pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, adding life to any garden setting.
Originating from breeding efforts to develop robust and colorful varieties, 'Army Nurse' has become a popular choice for garden borders and containers. Its long flowering period and vivid tones make it an enduring favorite, offering a splash of color during the warmer months.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Containers · Pathways & Walkways · Hummingbird Gardens
Companion plants
Daphne · Brunnera · Tiarella · Camellia · Bleeding heart · Hellebore
Design tip
The combination of crimson-red sepals and deep purple corollas gives ‘Army Nurse’ unusually rich color for a shade-tolerant shrub. Position it where the pendant flowers can spill toward a walkway or patio edge, allowing their two-tone coloring and graceful hanging form to be appreciated at close range.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
