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Key characteristics

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

Shrubs

Fuchsia 'Army Nurse'

Army Nurse Hardy Fuchsia

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.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Summer to early fall

Find this plant

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.