Like most other fuchsia species, can be pruned at will. I'd pick the season when flowering is at its lowest ebb and right before major growth occurs....probably late winter/early spring in your zone. This would also accommodate any damage caused by an unsual cold snap in winter, which is always possible. Even in late November I have two fuchsias still blooming their heads off.....and neither are considered to be particularly hardy. These are much tougher shrubs than most folks give credit for.

It won't mind the moisture as long as drainage is good. I've seen them grow here in even quite a bit of damp shade. And Moonraker tends to be a bit of an agressive spreader - 3' tall is about right (not the tallest of the common selections) but that spread is very conservative - I've had shoots from mine pop up 3' away from the mother plant. Easy to dig down and severe though, if you wish to control the spread. I do that on a regular basis with Devil's Tears, which can really eat up the real estate if left to its own devices :-)) And yes, the hummers love it as much as the darker colored ones - they are attracted to the nectar in the tubular flowers.....not so much a specific color. And I've never noticed any particular fragrance. Here is a link that might be useful: Moonraker info from PNW local website

Hi Folks This may be something that is of no use at all but here in the UK I am trying out a product called ÂGarlic Barrier to control pest such as aphids. The manufacturers claim; "Use of GARLIC BARRIER with its sulphur content, in a programme of treatments has the potential to reduce feeding damage from a wide range of insect pests because the treated plants are healthier" and, "When used regularly it improves the overall health of plants, is non-toxic, can be used around edible plants and is safe to use where children, pets and wildlife are present" It might be worth looking into this a bit more to see if this could help Tight.... Here is a link that might be useful: Garlic Barrier

Thanks for the link - I've seen that, and I've googled the name, but still can't find answers to my questions: The leaves are growing and they are coming in white. What does this mean? It appears to be deciduous - should it be pruned every winter, or allowed to grow into a shrub? Is this a matter of preference? I know it can be pruned, but *must* it be pruned?