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Definition of Fuchsia

Often in the English language, words draw inspiration from the science community. Pasteurization, a process that kills harmful bacteria in milk, was named after its creator Louis Pasteur. Similarly, the color fuchsia was named after a genus of purplish, reddish plants. Today, fuchsia is commonly defined as both a genus of plants and a frequently used color.

Fuchsia Genus
- Plants of the Fuchsia genus originate from South America and New Zealand. A Catholic missionary named Charles Plumier first recorded their existence and named them after a co-worker of his, Leonhart Fuchs. The plant became mainstays in the West after they were imported into Britain in 1789; however, were not grown in the United States until the 1930s. Fuchsias belong to the plant family Onagraceae. There are over 100 separate Fuchsia species which share similar traits. Fuchsias hang from vines and have a pinkish, purplish color. In a Fuchsia plant, pistils, stamens parts, petals and sepals are located furthest from vines. Tubes, ovaries and pedicles, on the other hand, are the parts of Fuchsias closest to vines.
Fuchsia Plant Gardening
- Despite originating from the tropics, Fuchsias can be grown in mid-latitude climates in the United States. Because they drape from vines, some gardeners choose to grow Fuchsias in hanging baskets. Others grow Fuchsias out of pots. Fuchsias prefer plenty of sun exposure, but suffer in sweltering heat. Therefore, they grow tremendously well in shaded areas or indoors near windows. They grow most efficiently when watered in the morning. Unfortunately, they are sensitive to over-watering. Fuchsias should be allowed to seep up surrounding water before being watered further.
Fuchsia Color
- Fuchsia is also commonly known as a purplish, reddish color. It derives it name from the plant genus Fuchsia. Fuchsia is also commonly called magenta. Fuchsia plays extremely significant roles in the RGB and CMYK color wheels. In the RGB color wheel, fuchsia is created by mixing red and blue, making it a secondary color. In the CMYK color wheel, fuchsia is a primary color. When fuchsia is mixed with cyan, blue is made. Mixing fuchsia with yellow creates red.
Fuchsia Color Applications
- The color fuchsia is often used in the fashion world. It is used for anything from dresses to bathing suits. Some fashion designers have also employed fuchsia in accessories such as purses, cuffs and shoes. In the home, fuchsia can be combined with a variety of different colors by means of color schemes. Fuchsia can be used with nearly every color.

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