# California fuchsia (*Epilobium canum*) California fuchsia is a bright and beautiful flower that blooms in summer. Its colorful petals attract hummingbirds and butterflies, making gardens lively and fun! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Hummingbird Trumpet ![California fuchsia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Zauschneria_flowers-500px.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zauschneria_flowers-500px.jpg) ## Appearance The California fuchsia has vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, typically brilliant scarlet or orange-red. Its slender, upright stems are adorned with narrow, grayish-green leaves. The striking color and unique flower shape make it stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Onagraceae - **Genus:** Epilobium ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, it's not a true fuchsia; it belongs to a different plant family! - It's sometimes called 'firecracker plant' because its vibrant blooms resemble exploding fireworks! - Its bright flowers bloom in late summer and fall, bringing color when other plants fade! - Native Americans historically used parts of this plant for traditional medicine and beverages. ## Special abilities - **Water Saver:** California fuchsia can thrive in very dry conditions thanks to its efficient water use and ability to grow in poor soils. - **Nectar Beacon:** California fuchsia produces abundant nectar in its brightly colored, tubular flowers, perfectly attracting hummingbirds for pollination. - **Root Explorer:** California fuchsia has strong rhizomes that allow it to quickly spread and colonize new areas, ensuring its survival. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 60-120 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) — Feeds on its rich nectar - **Pollinates:** [Allen's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/allens-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus sasin*) — A key pollinator for its tubular flowers - **Eaten by:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — Its caterpillars feed on the leaves - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and some pollen ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California fuchsia? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is California fuchsia? 30-90 cm ### How wide does California fuchsia spread? 60-120 cm ### How big are the flowers on California fuchsia? 2-4 cm ### When does California fuchsia bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is California fuchsia edible? No ### Is California fuchsia toxic? None ### What is California fuchsia's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Desert Garden Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-garden-conservatory) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Ruth Bancroft Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ruth-bancroft-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Atwell Mill Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atwell-mill-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Birch Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/birch-aquarium-california) — California, US · Aquarium - [Crystal Lake Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-lake-recreation-area) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elkhorn-slough-national-estuarine-research-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see California fuchsia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-fuchsia) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [California fuchsia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-fuchsia)