fuch·sia / ˈfyoōshə/ • n. 1. a shrub (genus Fuchsia, family Onagraceae) with pendulous tubular flowers that are typically of two contrasting colors. Native to America and New Zealand, they are commonly grown as ornamentals. 2. a vivid purplish-red color.• adj. purplish red.

Fuchsia (family Onagraceae) A genus of shrubs or small trees that have showy, drooping flowers, each with 4, usually spreading, red sepals and 4, usually erect, petals. They are much cultivated, but are sensitive to frost outdoors in northern Europe. There are about 100 species, centred on S. America and New Zealand.

fuchsia Genus of shrubby plants found wild in tropical and subtropical America and parts of New Zealand. They are widely cultivated. Named after the German herbalist Leonard Fuchs (1501–66), they have oval leaves and pink, red or purple trumpet-shaped, waxy flowers. The 100 or so species include the crimson-purple Fuchsia procumbens and F. speciosa. Family Onagraceae.

fuchsia XVIII. modL., named after Leonhard Fuchs, G. botanist (d. 1566); see -IA1.