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Plant care

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' (Celia Smedley fuchsia) care

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley'

Also called Celia Smedley fuchsia.

RHS H3USDA 10-11Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 60-90 cm tall (or taller when trained as a standard)

Watering rhythm

3-5days

When the top 1-2 cm of compost is dry, roughly every 3-5 days in summer

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Rich, free-draining loam-based or peat-free compost

Humidity

50-70%

Temp

7-21°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

60-90 cm tall (or taller when trained as a standard)

Care at a glance

Light

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Best in bright indirect light or dappled sun. Tolerates some direct morning sun but appreciates afternoon shade in hot weather. Insufficient light results in fewer, smaller flowers. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water fuchsia 'celia smedley' when the top 1-2 cm of compost is dry, roughly every 3-5 days in summer. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Water consistently; this vigorous cultivar has higher water demands than smaller fuchsias. Containers should drain freely — never allow roots to sit in water. In winter reduce watering drastically.

Soil and pot

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' grows best in rich, free-draining loam-based or peat-free compost. John Innes No. 2 or 3 suits large container specimens particularly well, providing stability and nutrient reserve for this robust grower. Add 10-15% perlite to improve drainage. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 7-21°C (45-70°F). Moderate to high humidity is preferred. In dry, heated indoor environments, stand pots on a tray of damp gravel or mist around the plant occasionally. If you keep the room above 7 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed fuchsia 'celia smedley' sparingly. Feed with a balanced fertiliser fortnightly in spring to build stem framework, then switch to a high-potash liquid feed every 7-10 days when flower buds appear. Continue throughout summer and early autumn. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on fuchsia 'celia smedley' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Whitefly — This large, lush cultivar is attractive to whitefly. Monitor with sticky traps and treat with insecticidal soap at the first sign of infestation.
  • Vine weevil — Grubs attack roots in containers; apply nematode treatments (Steinernema kraussei) to compost in late summer.
  • Botrytis — The large flowers can trap moisture. Deadhead promptly and ensure good air circulation, especially under glass.
  • Aphids — Check new soft growth regularly. Blast off with water or apply insecticidal soap; biological controls such as Aphidius wasps work well under glass.
  • Overwatering — Despite its vigour, this cultivar is susceptible to root rot if compost stays persistently wet. Allow brief surface drying between thorough waterings.

Companion plants

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' pairs well with Lobelia erinus, Verbena bonariensis, Argyranthemum, and Osteospermum. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Take 8-10 cm softwood cuttings from actively growing, non-flowering shoots in spring. Insert into moist cutting compost and root at 18-20°C under cover; strike in 3-4 weeks. This cultivar roots particularly easily and is ideal for training into standards. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' is mildly toxic to pets. Fuchsia is not individually listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats or dogs. Ingestion of berries or foliage may cause mild gastrointestinal upset; keep the plant away from pets prone to chewing. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley'?

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' is most commonly called Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley', but it is also known as Celia Smedley fuchsia. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' apply identically to anything sold as Celia Smedley fuchsia.

How much light does fuchsia 'celia smedley' need?

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Best in bright indirect light or dappled sun. Tolerates some direct morning sun but appreciates afternoon shade in hot weather. Insufficient light results in fewer, smaller flowers.

How often should I water fuchsia 'celia smedley'?

Water fuchsia 'celia smedley' when the top 1-2 cm of compost is dry, roughly every 3-5 days in summer. Water consistently; this vigorous cultivar has higher water demands than smaller fuchsias. Containers should drain freely — never allow roots to sit in water. In winter reduce watering drastically. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is fuchsia 'celia smedley' toxic to cats and dogs?

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' is mildly toxic to pets. Fuchsia is not individually listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats or dogs. Ingestion of berries or foliage may cause mild gastrointestinal upset; keep the plant away from pets prone to chewing.

What USDA hardiness zone does fuchsia 'celia smedley' grow in?

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' is rated for USDA zone 10-11 (overwinter frost-free at 5-7°C) and RHS hardiness H3. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of fuchsia 'celia smedley' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Fuchsia 'Celia Smedley' is also commonly called Celia Smedley fuchsia.