Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Back to the Fuchsia Salvia: Hot Pink Spikes on Charcoal Stems
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Back to the Fuchsia salvia puts on a bold show: slender spikes of deep fuchsia-pink florets, opening from purplish-red buds, held on stiff, nearly black charcoal stems. Dozens of spikes rise above dark green, slightly textured leaves from late May into early summer, and the plant grows into an upright, rounded clump 22 to 28 inches tall. The name is a pun, but the color is serious.
Back to the Fuchsia at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Salvia 'Back to the Fuchsia' |
| Flowers | Deep fuchsia pink in dense spikes, purplish calyxes |
| Stems | Dark charcoal, nearly black |
| Size | 22 to 28 inches tall, 22 to 34 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks mid-June, repeats after cutting back |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds; deer and rabbits pass it by |
Pink spikes beside purple ones
Salvia and lavender share a shape and a habitat, so they are one of the easiest pairings in a sunny garden. What Back to the Fuchsia adds is color. Most salvias sit in the blue-violet range, close to lavender. This one is a hot pink, which makes a lively contrast with purple lavender while still feeling related, thanks to the matching spiky form. Its first flush arrives before lavender opens, and the rebloom after a trim fills in as the lavender finishes.
The charcoal stems are a detail worth planting close to a path for. Group three plants between lavender mounds, or use a row of them to edge a lavender hedge. Leave air space around each lavender crown. Try layouts in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average and well drained. Wet, heavy soil in winter is the main cause of loss.
- Water: regular until established, then an occasional drink in long dry spells.
- Cut back: once the first spikes fade, cut the plant back by about a third to bring on another flush.
- Air flow: in muggy, crowded beds, mildew can appear after the first bloom. Cutting back and spacing help.
- Winter: leave stems standing or cut back in fall, then tidy up in spring as new leaves appear.
Fresh and dried
Its spikes work in fresh or dried arrangements. Cut when about half the florets have opened. Fuchsia salvia and purple lavender in the same jar is a bright, cheerful mix, and both dry well for a summer-colored bundle.
Plug tray or bare root
Back to the Fuchsia comes as a 72-cell plug tray and as a bare root plant. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Will it rebloom?
Yes, moderately. Cutting it back after the first flush brings another round of spikes.
Do rabbits eat salvia?
Deer and rabbits generally pass it by, much as they do lavender.
How wide does it get?
Up to about 34 inches wide, so give it more room than a compact salvia.
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