California fuchsia
Epilobium canum
Scarlet tubes in late summer, right on time for migrating hummingbirds.
Hardiness: zones 8 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 2 ft tall, 3 ft wide
From: California and SW
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: pollinators.
Native to: California, Desert Southwest. Hardy in zones 8 to 10.
The story
California fuchsia waits until late summer, when the hills are brown and almost nothing else is in flower, and then covers itself in scarlet trumpets. It blooms exactly as hummingbirds pass through on their way south.
Planting
Full sun and well-drained soil. It suits slopes and rock walls.
Growing
Cut it nearly to the ground in winter. A deep drink once a month in summer extends the bloom.
Harvest and use
The best late-season hummingbird plant in the West.
What to watch for
It spreads by runners in loose soil. Leggy if never cut back.
See if California fuchsia fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home