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California Fucshia

Epilobium canum

true

1 Gallon

California Fucshia

In stock

3'x2'

Sizes:

California Fuchsia — Epilobium canum

Also known as: California Fuschia, Zauschneria, Hummingbird Trumpet

California Fuchsia is one of the most striking and drought-tolerant perennials for desert and foothill gardens, especially admired for its intense red-orange, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from late summer into fall—just when many other plants have gone dormant. It forms low, spreading mats or loose upright mounds of narrow, gray-green to silvery foliage, depending on variety and growing conditions.

Native across California’s chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and desert edges, including higher elevations of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts, Epilobium canum thrives in hot, dry, sunny conditions with well-drained soils. In the low desert, it does best with some afternoon shade or protection from intense summer sun. After flowering, it can be cut back hard in late fall or early spring to maintain a dense, tidy shape.

This is an essential hummingbird plant, blooming right as fall migrants pass through. It can be planted en masse on slopes or used in habitat gardens and borders to draw in pollinators.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)
Nectar Source: Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna); Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae); Monarch (Danaus plexippus); Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Bird Resources: Nectar; Insects
Bird Species: Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna); Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae); Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Desert

Water needs:

Moderate

Exposure:

Filtered Sun

Mature size:

3'x2'

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

Red

Flower season:

Summer; Fall

Pruning:

After flowering, it can be cut back hard in late fall or early spring to maintain a dense, tidy shape.

Cold Hardiness:

10 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Yes

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.