California Fuchsia: A Hummingbird Magnet for Dry, Sunny Gardens

Until recently, I only knew California fuchsia (Zauschneria californica) as patches of red blazing through granite cracks at 7,000 feet near Echo Summit. Today, it’s widely available at nurseries—even big-box stores—thanks to wholesalers like Monrovia. The plant has been tamed, losing its scraggly wild look but keeping its brilliant color and toughness. It’s a dependable, long-blooming summer perennial for dry, sunny spots, especially slopes. Hummingbirds adore it, and the plant relies on them for pollination.

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California fuchsia is a low-growing, sun-loving native perennial. Its name comes from the tubular, mostly orange or red flowers shaped like common fuchsia—but unlike its namesake, it thrives in heat and sun, not cool shade.

Plant Profile

• Botanical name: Zauschneria californica (or Epilobium canum)
• USDA zones: 6–9
• Water needs: Light
• Light requirement: Full sun
• Mature size: Under 1 foot to 4 feet tall, up to 4 feet wide, depending on variety

Distinguishing Traits

Tubular flowers bloom in bright orange or red. Leaves are small and grayish. Numerous varieties exist; newer ones are especially long-blooming. 'Bert's Bluff' is orange-red. 'Ghostly Red' has the purest red flowers and fuzzy gray-green leaves. Others include 'UC Hybrid' (developed at UC Davis) and 'Calistoga' (orange-red).

How to Grow

Plant in fall or early spring so roots establish before heat. Ensure quick drainage. Water regularly (every week or two) during the first growing season. Once established, cut back to watering only as needed. Prune established plants nearly to the ground in fall after bloom. Lightly tip-prune in spring to encourage bushy growth.

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Landscape Uses

For late-summer and early-fall color when other plants fade, combine California fuchsia (shown here is 'Ghostly Red') with mass plantings of other natives and Mediterranean plants. Line a path with it. Let it spill over a rock wall or boulders.