The true spelling of this confusing flower plant is actually fuchsia
Before that spelling gets you frustrated and vulgar :
“I don’t give any fuc*s how to spell it!”
… just replace the star with the correct letter: H!
Did you know?
The genus was named by the French missionary botanist Charles Plumier, who described the first species in Hispaniola and published the name Fuchsia in 1703, honouring the German physician and herbalist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566).
Fuchsia belongs to the Onagraceae, the evening primrose and willowherb family, which is why its flowers have parts in fours.
The three spellings, and which one is right
Three versions of this plant name circulate, and only one of them is correct. Here is how to tell them apart at a glance.
Once the CHS order clicks into place, the other two spellings look wrong straight away.
Spelling tips for fushia
S, C and H fall in alphabetical order: CHS A personal favorite to remember the spelling is:
“I know there are three letters S, C and H jumbled in there, and their order is alphabetical : CHS !”
If you know German , you can remember that the name comes from someone called “Mr. Fox”: FUCHS in German
An easy way to remember the correct spelling is to note the following:
F uchsia’sU niqueC orrectH orticulturalS pellingI sA bnormal!
Another wrong spelling is fuschia .
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it fuchsia or fushia?
The correct spelling is fuchsia. Fushia is simply a misspelling of this confusing flower plant’s name, even though it is the way many people say it out loud. If in doubt, remember that a C belongs between the U and the H.
Why is fuchsia spelled with a “ch”?
Because the name honours a person, not a sound. It comes from someone called “Mr. Fox”, which is Fuchs in German, and the plant name simply keeps that spelling with an -ia added. Knowing a little German makes the odd letter cluster far easier to accept.
How do you remember how to spell fuchsia?
The trick is the order of the three jumbled letters S, C and H: they run in alphabetical order, so CHS. Another aid is the acronym that spells the word out: Fuchsia’s Unique Correct Horticultural Spelling Is Abnormal. Either one puts the letters back in the right sequence.
Where does the H go in fuchsia?
Straight after the C, in the middle of the word. The rude version of the name that frustrated gardeners mutter has a star in it, and you only need to replace that star with the correct letter, H. That gives fuc-h, then -sia to finish.
Images: Pixabay: Iulia Radu, endro lewa
Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.
