Fuchsia triphylla was among the first fuchsias ever collected by a European botanist, discovered in the Caribbean mountains by Charles Plumier in the late 1600s. Its leaves arrive in whorls of three — hence the species name — with a subtle red or maroon flush on the undersides that deepens in stronger light. The drooping, long-tubed flowers are built unmistakably for hummingbirds, their narrow throats inaccessible to most insects but perfectly matched to a hovering bird.

Outside zones 10 and 11, Firecracker Fuchsia is grown as an annual or overwintered indoors. In autumn, stems can be cut back hard and the plant stored in a cool, dark room with minimal watering until late winter. Alternatively, stem cuttings taken in late summer root readily and make compact plants ready to go out the following spring. It thrives in partial to full shade with consistent moisture and cool temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit — conditions that mirror its native highland forest. Because it is a true species rather than a hybrid, it also carries the distinction of being a parent to many of the Fuchsia cultivars sold today.