Plant · GBIF taxon 3189132
California fuchsia
Epilobium canumAlso known as Zauschneria, Hummingbird Trumpet, Hummingbird Flower, Wild Fuchsia
California fuchsia lights up dry chaparral slopes with a brilliant display of tubular scarlet flowers just as most other native plants fade in the late summer heat. Its narrow, grey-green leaves are covered in fine hairs that trap moisture and reflect intense sunlight, a key adaptation for surviving harsh Mediterranean droughts. These striking blooms act as crucial nectar refueling stations for migrating hummingbirds, which serve as the plant's primary pollinators.
Drought-TolerantHummingbird-MagnetPerennial
1 / 7- diet
- Photosynthetic
- family
- Onagraceae
- threats
- Habitat development and invasive plant competition
- life Span
- 5 to 15 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Watch for Hummingbirds: Sit quietly near a flowering patch in autumn to observe territorial feeding battles.
- Check the Leaves: Touch the foliage gently to feel the soft, woolly hairs that help conserve water.
- Look for Seed Pods: Search the late-autumn stems for dry capsules releasing fluffy, wind-blown seeds.