Many people know you can propagate a fuchsia plant from cuttings, but have you ever eyed your fetching flowers and wondered if you could propagate more by sowing the seeds?
You know those little pods that are left behind after a flower falls off? Those are actually the plant’s berries – technically called ovaries – and they contain the plant’s seeds.
Just keep in mind that you probably won’t create an exact replica of the existing plant. That’s because most fuchsias are hybrids, and they won’t grow true if you use this method.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
No matter, you’ll still undoubtedly produce a gorgeous plant that will not only add color to your yard, but that you can also eat!
Ever looked at those gorgeous hanging fuchsia flowers and wondered how to grow more from seeds? Well, I’ve been fascinated by these beautiful plants and spent countless hours studying their seeds. Let me share everything I know about what fuchsia seeds look like and how you can grow them yourself!
Physical Characteristics of Fuchsia Seeds
Fuchsia seeds are actually quite tiny and have some distinct features
- Size: Typically 1-2 millimeters long
- Shape: Oblong to oval, slightly curved
- Color: Dark brown to black
- Texture: Smooth and shiny
- Location: Found inside fuchsia berries (technically called ovaries)
Where to Find Fuchsia Seeds
The journey from flower to seed goes like this:
- After the flower falls off naturally
- A small pod (berry) remains behind
- The berry changes color from green to red or purple
- Seeds develop inside these berries
How to Identify Ripe Fuchsia Berries
Here’s what I look for when harvesting fuchsia seeds
- The berry should feel soft and slightly squishy
- Color should change from initial green to dark red/purple
- Slight wrinkling of the berry surface
- Berry should be plump and juicy
Pro tip Birds love these berries too! I’ve learned to protect them with muslin bags or mesh fabric if I want to collect seeds
Collecting and Saving Seeds
To collect fuchsia seeds:
- Wait until berries are fully ripe
- Cut open the berry carefully
- Scrape out the tiny seeds
- Spread them on paper towel to dry
- Let them dry for about a week
- Store in airtight container
Storage Tips
- Keep seeds in cool, dry place
- Seeds remain viable for 2-3 years
- Label containers with date and variety
- Maintain temperature around 70°F (21°C)
Growing Fuchsia from Seeds
Recommended Soil Mix
I’ve had best results with this mix:
- 1 part peat moss
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part vermiculite
Planting Steps
- Fill containers with soil mix
- Sprinkle seeds on surface (don’t bury!)
- Press gently into soil
- Maintain temperature 70-75°F (21-24°C)
- Keep soil consistently moist
- Provide bright, indirect light
Important Growing Conditions
| Factor | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright but indirect |
| Temperature | 70-75°F (21-24°C) |
| Humidity | 40-50% |
| Germination Time | 2-4 weeks |
| Water | Keep soil moist but not wet |
Things to Keep in Mind
Here’s something interesting – most fuchsias we see in gardens are hybrids, which means:
- Seeds might not produce exact copies of parent plants
- You might get surprising new color combinations
- Each seedling could be unique
- It’s like a gardening lottery – you never know what you’ll get!
Common Challenges
We all face some hiccups when growing fuchsias from seed. Here are some I’ve encountered:
- Seeds taking longer than expected to germinate
- Damping off disease in seedlings
- Inconsistent moisture levels
- Birds eating the berries before harvest
Tips for Success
- Don’t bury seeds – they need light to germinate
- Use clear plastic cover to maintain humidity
- Be patient – germination can take up to 4 weeks
- Remove cover once seedlings emerge
- Transplant when seedlings have 2-3 true leaves
Final Thoughts
Growing fuchsias from seed might take more patience than using cuttings, but it’s super rewarding! There’s something magical about watching these tiny seeds transform into gorgeous flowering plants. Plus, you might even create your own unique variety!
Remember, every gardener’s experience is different, and that’s what makes growing these beautiful plants so exciting. Have you tried growing fuchsias from seed? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
Happy gardening, and don’t forget to share your fuchsia growing adventures with us!
How to Harvest the Pods
First, a little anatomy lesson.
When you look at a flower, you’ll see a long stem holding it securely onto the rest of the plant. That’s the pedicel, and it’s attached to a little bulb at the base of the flower. This is the ovary, where the seeds are forming inside.
Below that is the flower, including the tube (which is attached to the ovary), the sepals (outer petals), and the petals or corolla. Coming out of the inside of the petals you’ll see the filaments, anthers, style, stamen, and stigma.
Instead of deadheading your plants, let the flowers fall off naturally. When they fall, the ovary stays behind. If the flower was pollinated, it will start to grow larger, plump up, and will usually change from green to red or purple.
Not all fuchsias start out with green ovaries, so you will need to keep an eye on the size as well as the color. Some start out red and turn a darker red, for example.
This hybrid, pictured below, starts out greenish-red, turns green, and then transitions to a dark red when it’s ripe.
Others stay green and just become darker green.
This berry pictured below is too immature to harvest.
This berry is plump, starting to wrinkle, and has turned dark red. It’s ready to go.
Once the color changes and the berry is juicy and plump, not hard and firm, snip it off with a pair of clean scissors or clippers.
If you aren’t sure, wait until the berry pod starts to shrivel up slightly before harvesting it.
I’ll tell you right now, the birds are more likely to nab your berries than you are, unless you take action. Birds love them when they become big and juicy.
To protect the berries, tie muslin bags around them, or cover the entire plant in mesh fabric. Prop the fabric away from the plant so it isn’t touching the leaves.
Don’t be surprised if your fuchsia stops producing flowers if you let it go to seed. Once a plant starts producing fruit, it often stops producing blossoms.
If you want to avoid this, only allow a few berries to form at a time, and keep deadheading the rest of the blossoms.
Check out our guide to deadheading for more tips on how and when to cut off the flowers.
When to Start Saving
Seeds start forming shortly after the plant starts flowering. In fact, once blossoms form, the berry bonanza is right around the corner!
Depending on where you live and what species, cultivar, or hybrid you are growing, that means you can start saving in the spring, throughout the summer, or even into the fall.
Watch for flowers to start turning brown or dry, or dropping off the bush. When that starts happening, it’s almost time to harvest the berries and save the goodies inside.
Fuchsia Plant Care: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Fuchsias
FAQ
How do you get seeds from a fuchsia?
To ensure good germination the fruits must be fully ripened on the plant, the muslin bag protects them if they fall. The seeds are extracted from the fruit by cutting each segment through the centre using a sharp knife and scraping them out with the blade.
Is it hard to grow fuchsia from seed?
Starting fuchsia from seed is tricky because germination is unpredictable, both in timing and producing plants that are true to their parents. If you want to try this experiment, place seeds on top of the soil and lightly cover with soil or vermiculite. Cover loosely with plastic, keep warm and wait.
What does a seed pod look like?
A seed pod is a protective casing that contains a plant’s seeds. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, depending on the plant species. Some are long and slender, while others are round, flat, or even spiky.
How long do fuchsia seeds take to grow?
Fuchsias can be grown from seeds which can take up to 6 months to germinate, but most named varieties are grown from rooted cuttings and are sold in spring.