The perfect plant to create that "rainforest feel"!  The Bolivian Fuchsia (Fuchsia boliviana) is a gorgeous, rare species from the Andes that's truly a delight to sit under!  Throughout most of the year, this exotic bush sends down long, hanging clusters of 4" flowers, in an eye-catching combination of pure white and fluorescent red.  The trumpet-shaped blooms open progressively down the cluster over a period of several months, followed by tasty green fruits!  The lush, oversized leaves give the plant a great, tropical look.  This is an extremely showy species that deserves center-stage in the garden! 

The Bolivian Fuchsia grows in the cool cloud forests, where it doesn't freeze, but it also doesn't get very hot.  If you're going to attempt it in warmer areas like the South, give it plenty of afternoon shade.  The plant can only handle a few degrees of frost.  You can grow it in a pot and move it indoors over the winter, pruning it to 3 or 4 feet if necessary.  Some humidity is needed for it to thrive.  In the right environment, it's a vigorous plant and a prolific bloomer.  Here in San Francisco it grows into a 12 to 15 foot tree!

The Bolivian Fuchsia prefers rich, well-draining soil that's kept regularly moist.  It likes tree-filtered sun, or morning sun + bright shade.  It is generally resistant to Fuchsia mite.  This is a species Fuchsia, so the seeds grow "true" to the parents, unlike hybrid fuchsias.  And the best part is it flowers almost every month of the year!

The ancient Incas cultivated this exotic flower centuries ago, and the fruits are still sold in South American markets.  They taste sort of like Kiwi fruit, but less sweet.  Indoors, you'll need to pollinate the flowers with a paint brush if you want to get fruit.  But it's safe to say that most people would grow this plant for the flowers. :-)

Also see the gorgeous red form!