Sno-King Fuchsia Society

"A little terminology – Fuchsias are often described in the garden center by their colors and form. It is helpful to know some terminology so you know what is being described!

Fuchsia flowers are tubular and often hanging. The outer tube, ending in the swept back sepals of the flower, is called the calyx. The inner bell of petals is called the corolla. The corolla can be single, semi double, or double, depending on the number of petals. Single flowers have four petals, semi double have between five and seven, and double have eight or more. The fuchsia cultivars called Triphyllas, bred from the species F. triphylla, have long-tubed flowers with trumpet shaped sepals and petals.

Fuchsia forms can be trailing, bush or vines. Trailing fuchsias have lax, cascading stems that look wonderful in a hanging basket. Bush fuchsias have upright growth that can be used in a container or planted out in a garden. Bush and trailing fuchsias can also be trained into standards, with a long bare stem surmounted by foliage and flowers. The vine fuchsias are new on the market, and can be planted out in the garden to grow on a trellis or porch.

Hardiness of fuchsias varies, depending on the original species hardiness. "Hardy" means the plant survives over winter in the ground, even in freezing temperatures. F. magellanica and its hybrids are the hardiest, surviving winters to USDA zone 6 (or 23^o F) if mulched or given some protection. "Half-hardy" fuchsias are marginally hardy, with the top growth dying back to the ground in winter, but sending up new shoots in the spring, similar to other perennial plants. "Tender" fuchsias will not survive below freezing temperatures. See below for overwintering potential."
Source: http://clark.wsu.edu/volunteer/mg/gm_tips/Fuchsia.html