A comprehensive survey of 225 populations of 80 taxa of Fuchsia showed flavonol monoglycosides, especially quercetin and kaempferol 3‐O‐glucosides, to be ubiquitous in all species examined. Flavonol diglycosides are unusual, however, and occur in just eight species in five of the nine sections of the genus. Flavone glycosides were found in only nine species belonging to five sections and are associated with primitive taxa, having been lost in more recently derived species or sections. Flavone sulphates are restricted to species of the disjunct sect. Skinnera from New Zealand. The limited presence of flavone glycosides and flavonol diglycosides in certain species can be effectively employed as chemical markers in determining the parentage of these species in fuchsia cultivars of unknown hybrid origin.