Fuchsias can be picky when it comes to what they grow with. So if you’re growing fuchsias and want them to do well you have to be careful what you plant them with.
A few summers ago I planted a combination that I thought was going to work out brilliantly. But instead I had to watch my fuchsias slowly fade away even though I was doing everything right when watering and feeding them.
So getting the companions right is a big deal. Which is why I’ve put together this list to show you which plants you should never plant with fuchsias and why, as well as a few good ideas for what will work.
Understanding Fuchsia
Fuchsias are absolutely gorgeous. They have beautiful pendant flowers that look like tiny ballerinas in tutus.
But as mentioned before, they’re particular about what plants they have as neighbors. They have certain needs – partial shade, lots of moisture and soil that drains well and is rich in organic matter. But what makes them really awkward is that they’re very sensitive to competition and changes in their environment.
They have shallow roots that spread out horizontally rather than going deep. This means they’re always competing with nearby plants for nutrients and water. When you plant them with the wrong plants or flowers they’re just going to fight, and sadly the fuchsias usually lose.
If you get it wrong you’ll have fuchsias that, at best, give you disappointing flowers. At worse they won’t grow at all.
Plants You Should Never Plant with Fuchsia
Mint
Mint is one of the worst plants as a companion. It gets along with basically nothing else. But it’s a mistake I’ve made myself.
It looks innocent enough but you quickly come to learn it’s a total bully. It spreads through underground rhizomes that in just a single season can travel a good few feet. And they choke everything in their path.
When it comes to fuchsias it’s the allelopathic compounds the the mint releases that cause the biggest problems. Those chemicals stop other plants growing and so your fuchsias will struggle and end up with yellow leaves.
On top of that mint likes full sun to partial shade. That means it quickly outgrows and overshadow the fuchsias.
Black Walnut Trees (Juglans nigra)
If you have a black walnut tree anywhere within 50 feet of where you want to plant fuchsias, just don’t.
Black walnuts produce juglone, which is toxic to a whole host of plants. Fuchsias included. Even older tress can impact any plants that are within an 80 feet radius of them.
If you do or have planted fuchsias near a walnut tree you’ll first start to see them wilting even when you’re giving them enough water. Then the leaves turn yellow and eventually they’ll die.
Unfortunately there’s no way around this one. They simply won’t work together.
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
Sunflowers are also terrible neighbors for fuchsias. They also release allelopathic chemicals that stop other plants growing.
But it’s actually their size and appetite that’s the biggest problem. Just one sh flower can take in huge amounts of water and nutrients, something that your fuchsias need just as much.
Plus, as they grow, they’ll create lots of shade because of their height. That will stress a lot of plants that need the sun although in fuchsias case they much prefer the shade and yet sunflowers don’t provide enough of that either. So whatever happens it’s a losing situation.
Bamboo (Bambuseae)
Bamboo will take over your garden very quickly as it spreads like crazy. Even clumping varieties can eventually overwhelm fuchsias as they grow so fast and their roots spread out aggressively.
Bamboo roots are super competitive. Other plants roots can’t get a look in as the bamboo roots take over. Your fuchsias will struggle to find space for their roots to spread and this in turn will result in poor growth and flowering.
Eucalyptus Trees
Eucalyptus trees are beautiful but they love water. A mature eucalyptus can consume up to 100 gallons of water per day. It’s no surprise then that they leave the soil bone dry. For fuchsias this is going to be death sentence as they need a lot of water.
Eucalyptus leaves also contain oils that can be allelopathic to plants. When their leaves fall off they don’t decompose easily which then builds up and can stop the air from flowing around the roots of your fuchsias.
Aggressive Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses like fountain grass or pampas grass might look elegant but they’re awful companions for fuchsia. Their roots will compete with the fuchsias for water and nutrients and leave them struggling.
A lot of ornamental grasses also self seed profusely. The seedlings then end up growing when you’ve planted your fuchsias.
Trying to remove the grass seedlings from around fuchsia roots is like performing surgery with garden gloves on. I wouldn’t advise it.
Roses (especially vigorous climbers)
This one might surprise you but roses and fuchsias don’t play well together. Roses need a lot of fertilizing and rich soil, but they also like a lot more sun than fuchsias can handle.
Vigorous climbing roses are a big problem because they can quickly grow and make too much shade for fuchsias. I had climbing ‘Eden’ rose that took over an entire corner where I had planted some hanging basket fuchsias. The roses also attract different pests which can spread to your fuchsias.
Large Hostas
Hostas and fuchsias both love shade but large hosta varieties can be an issue. Giant hostas like ‘Sum and Substance’ create such a lot of shade and have such large roots that they don’t let any other plants grow.
The problem is that hostas emerge early in spring and cast all that shade before the fuchsia had a chance to grow. By the time your fuchsias are growing properly they’re already at a real disadvantage.
Lavender
Lavender and fuchsias have completely opposite needs. So it’s no shock that they’re bad companions.
Lavender does best in dry soil that drains well and full sun. Fuchsias on the other hand need most and rich soil along with partial shade.
So if you try and grow them together one of them is always going to be unhappy. Either the lavender will struggle in the moisture that the fuchsias needs or the fuchsias won’t be able to deal with the dry and sunny conditions lavender likes.
Aggressive Groundcovers
Groundcovers like vinca minor or pachysandra might seem like they’d be a good companion for fuschias but as they are so aggressive when they spread they can easily swamp them.
They will stop the air from flowing properly around fuchsia stems and they can also be home to lots of pests and diseases. On top of that they steal the water and nutrients from the soil and the fuchsias suffer.
Large Ferns
While small ferns can be lovely fuchsia companions, large species like royal ferns or cinnamon ferns are definitely not. They can get to over 6 feet tall and then the shade from them stops the fuchsias from growing.
Large ferns also have big roots and need lots of water. This means they will be competing hard with your fuchsias. The key here is scale – giant ferns and fuchsias just don’t match up well when it comes to their sizes.
Pine Trees
Pine trees make the soil acidic and over time this can be a problem for fuchsias. They can deal with some acidity in the soil but pine trees drop their needles all the time which creates the acidity they struggle to cope with.
Pine needles also create a layer of mulch that can hold on to moisture which when put against the stems of fuchsias can result in fungal issues. And the shade from pine trees is too much even for fuchsias that like a lot of shade.
Tomatoes and Other Nightshades
This might seem obvious since tomatoes are vegetables but I’ve seen people try to mix ornamental and edible gardens with disastrous results. Tomatoes and other nightshades can spread pests and diseases to fuchsias
Tomatoes also need a lot of fertilizing and regular watering. This is the opposite of what the fuchsias like. Plus they need full sun which is another area where they are at odds with the fuchsias.
Good Companion Plants for Fuchsia
Now that we’ve covered what not to plant let’s look at some companions that actually work with fuchsias.
Impatiens are probably the most reliable companions for fuchsias. They both love partial shade and need the same amount of water.
Both plants like to be fed on a regular basis and soil that drains well. You just need to make sure you choose varieties that don’t overwhelm fuchsias. So stick to standard impatiens rather than the giant New Guinea types.
Begonias, particularly wax begonias and tuberous begonias are great partners. They both like the same sort of light and their flowers complement each other very well.
I love pairing pink fuchsias with white begonias. It’s a classic look and always impresses.
Caladiums don’t encroach or grow over fuchsias. Both of them like the same moisture and filtered light. Caladiums leaves come in pink, white and green which look wonderful with fuchsia flowers.
Small ferns like maidenhair ferns or small lady ferns won’t overwhelm your fuchsias and are a great contrast to them.
Tips for Successful Companion Planting
Match water requirements exactly. This is very important with fuchsias. If your companion plants need different amounts of water or frequency then one if them is going to suffer. Fuchsias need consistent moisture but not waterlogged so choose plants that have the same needs.
Consider mature sizes carefully. That cute little plant next to your fuchsia might triple in size by midsummer. Always do your research in to mature sizes and plan accordingly.
I keep a garden journal with notes about how different combinations performed and it’s saved me from making mistakes over again.
Pay attention to root systems. Plants with similar root depths and growth patterns work best together. Plants that have shallow roots work well with fuchsias and plants with deeper roots can work with them if they have access to different layers of the soil.
Think about bloom timing. The best companions either bloom at the same time as your fuchsias or have staggered bloom times.
For the former they will bloom together and create a wonderful show and if they’re staggered then you get flowers for longer in your garden.
Don’t plant plants that only look good for a few weeks while your fuchsias are blooming all season long.
Consider maintenance needs. Any partner plants should have similar needs when it comes to care. So things like when to fertilize, pest management, pruning etc. This makes your life easier and means that all the plants in get the care they need.
Final Thoughts
The plants I’ve warned against here aren’t necessarily bad plants. It’s just they bad partners for fuchsias.
Mint is wonderful in its own dedicated space, sunflowers are great for cutting gardens, roses are gorgeous when given the sunny conditions they need and so on. But they won’t work with fuchsias.
Good companion planting takes time to get right. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts aren’t a huge success. Even experienced gardeners are constantly learning and adjusting theirs. Keep notes about what works and what doesn’t because every garden is different.