Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Surefire ® Rose begonia ( Begonia benariensis ) . Photo by : Proven Winners .
Typically used in shaded summer beds and houseplants , begonia have tropical and subtropical origins and are often found growing as forest understory plant in their aboriginal habitats . Some varieties are grown for their asymmetrical , patterned , or variegated foliage , while others add vibrant colour to shady garden areas with their shiny blooms . Although typically on the small-scale side , begonia plants pack a big punch of semblance and interest , making them a favorite for both indoor containers and out-of-door bottom .
" We love begonias — so many beautiful colors and bloom types . They ’re perfect for containers , especially in part - ghost or shady smirch where you need a big pop of colour . ” — Sean & Allison , Spoken Garden
On this pageboy : Basics|Types|Planting|Care|Begonia Varieties|Design Ideas|Growing as Houseplants|FAQs
On this page :
BASICS
Zones:
Most variety 9 - 11 , but commonly grown as an annual or houseplant .
Height/Spread:
Varieties differ , from 6- to 12 - column inch houseplant to shaggy-haired plants 5 feet tall or more .
Exposure:
Sun to shade off , depending on smorgasbord .
Bloom Time:
Varies , with the most common types , wax and tuberous begonias , blooming from early summer until frost . efflorescence time may also vary if grown indoors and some types flower all year .
COMMON TYPES OF BEGONIAS
Here are the most mutual types base in garden and homes :
Fibrous begonias (wax begonias, bedding begonias):
These thickset , shade - loving plants are often used as bedding annuals or in containers . They sport succulent stems , rounded fleeceable or bronze - touch leaves , and 1- to 1½-inch blooms in red , pink , or white . Wax begonias typically develop 6 to 12 in tall and wide , thriving in window box , hanging baskets , or beneath trees . acquire begonias .
Tuberous begonias (Rieger begonias):
know for their sheer , coloured flowers and trailing or upright habits , tuberous begonia salad days in shades of pinkish , orangish , ruddy , yellow , and white . They do especially well in hanging basket or containers . Outdoors , they may reach up to 3 feet marvellous ; indoors , usually 12 to 18 inch . These begonias are frost - tender and involve overwintering . memorize begonias .
Cane begonias (including angel wing begonias):
Cane begonias grow upright with bamboo - corresponding fore and often bring out clump of dangling flower . Their foliage is a highlight , especially in Angel Wing varieties , which have long , speckled leaves with red undersurface . Sizes range from small houseplants to 5 - foot - tall specimens in ideal shape .
Rhizomatous begonias:
This is the largest and most divers group , maturate mainly for their foliage . These begonias spread via thick horizontal rootstalk and often have unusual , textured parting . Sizes vary widely — from thickset tabletop plants to large 3 - foot variety show .
Rex begonias:
A popular subgroup of rhizomatous begonias , Rex case are prise for their dazzling leaf in shades of silver , burgundy , purple , and greenish . Though finical about water and humidity , they make striking houseplants or seasonal emphasis in shady outdoor displays . Most grow 12 to 18 inch marvellous and panoptic .
" Begonias are a diverse group of plants , with more than 2,000 known mintage and thousands of cultivar . They spring up in a panoptic range of environments , from tropic rainforest to high - ALT mountain . ”—American Begonia Society
Learn more about thedifferent types of begonia .
Mixed container . Pegasus ® Begonia crossbreed , Sweet Caroline Raven sweet potato vine , Proven Accents ® Lemon Coral ® sedum . Photo by Proven Winners .
PLANTING BEGONIAS
When to plant:
transplantation after all threat of hoarfrost has passed , as they are exceedingly frost tender and even temperatures below 50 degrees can cause damage .
Where to plant:
take a fix that gets partial shade or filtered sunlight ; with aurora Lord’s Day and afternoon shade being the best , particularly where it is exceptionally hot . For cheery locations , seek a dark - result potpourri or one that specifies improved sunlight leeway , likeSurefire ® Rose . Plant in a location where they will have in force melody circulation to prevent powdery mildew .
How to plant:
industrial plant wax begonia organ transplant 6 to 8 inches aside and others according to their ripe size of it . tuber can be start indoors by placing the tubers , vacuous side up , 1 column inch asunder in a shallow tray with moist potting intermixture . localise the tray in a obscure way and water just enough to keep the potting mix moist , but not soggy . Tubers should pullulate in about 4 weeks and be moved to an area with shining Light Within once the sprouts are about an inch tall . Only plant life out of doors when there is no longer a scourge of frost .
BEGONIA CARE
Wax and rhizomatous begoniasdon’t go dormant . gently prune them in spring ( warm mood ) or fall ( ice chest zones ) to maintain thickset growth . Before bringing them indoors for wintertime , check for plague or disease . Gradually acclimate them to indoor conditions by start up in a shining window and tardily deoxidize light to avoid foliage drop . In bounce , reverse the cognitive operation and move them back outdoors .
Tuberous begoniasdie back of course each year . Begin reducing piddle in previous summer , and trim yellowing foliation in early twilight . At the first icing terror , dig up the tubers , lightly clean off grease , and get them dry on newspaper in a sunny smudge for about a week . To prevent powdery mildew , junk with sulfur pulverization and store on an individual basis in paper bags or wrapped in newspaper .
Illustration by : Olga Akbarova
How to prune begonias:
Soil:
All begonias like evenly moist , well - drain soil with some add constitutive thing . For container - grow begonia , apply a well - draining pot soil with add organic subject to avail retain wet without becoming soggy .
Amendments and fertilizer:
For oecumenical growing use , give a balanced pee - soluble plant food once a month in the growing time of year . For plants grown stringently for their leafage , like angel wings , practice a plant food that is higher in nitrogen .
Watering:
even watering is important for healthy plants . The soil should remain moist at all time , but not too wet , as this can make root rot . Water at the base of the works to keep the foliage dry and prevent leaf situation and fungous disease .
Winter care:
Begonias can be brought indoors for overwintering . Put them in a windowpane with bright filtered light and increase the humidity .
Diseases and pests:
Susceptible topowdery mildew , mealybugs , wanderer mites , thrip , andwhitefly . shank putrefaction and rhizome rot can be triggered by overwatering and soggy soil .
BEGONIA VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners
Surefire ® Rose — Buy now from Proven WinnersBegonia benariensis
Zones:10 - 11Height / Spread:12 to 24 inches tall , 18 to 24 inches wideExposure : Sun or shadeBloom time : saltation until frostColor : Pink blossom over dark putting surface to bronze leaves
Versatile in Dominicus or subtlety and more vigorous than older variety show . Surefire ® begonia are lower upkeep too , and do n’t require any deadheading . They can handle some drouth , but will do their best with veritable watering .
" Surefire Rose begonia is a Dominicus or tincture plant - it can handle both — I’ve had it in both consideration . The only affair I ’ve noticed is the flush colouring change more or less - deep rose in shade , and more pink in Sunday . Both are beautiful . " — Janey , Dig , Plant , Water , repetition
Surefire ® White — Buy now from Proven WinnersBegonia benariensis
Zones:10 - 11Height / Spread:12 to 24 inches tall , 18 to 24 inches wideExposure : Sun or shadeBloom time : Spring until frostColor : White flowers over bright fleeceable foliation
Surefire ® White boom in both sunshine and ghost across various climate . This modest - maintenance , award - gain works bloom continuously without ask deadheading , and is complete for container , edge , or as aggregative planting .
" They provide leisurely , low-spirited maintenance gloss that persists all time of year without deadheading . It ’s heavy to go wrong with such foolproof plants . " — Proven succeeder
Dragon Wing ® Red — Buy now from Proven WinnersAngel offstage hybrid
Zones:9 - 11Height / Spread:14 to 18 inch tall and wideExposure : Part specter to shadeBloom metre : Spring until frostColor : ruby-red flowers , bright green foliation
A vigorous and heat - large-minded variety that flowers all summer . This cane character can be brought inside over winter as a houseplant . For a softer blossom refinement , this series also includes pink and white option .
Solenia ® orange red — Buy now from Proven WinnersRieger ( Begoniaxhiemalis )
Zones:9 - 11Height / Spread:8 to 12 inches marvelous and wideExposure : fond to full sunBloom time : outpouring until frostColor : Scarlet red-faced flowers , green foliage
fertile , vibrant scarlet , double flowers with ruffled petals bloom on mildew - insubordinate plants incessantly from planting to frost without needing deadheading . Performs well in both sun and shade , it makes an fantabulous filler for containers , delimitation , and edging in landscapes .
Glory WhiteRieger(Begonia x hiemalis )
Zones:9 - 11Height / Spread:12 to 18 inches tall and wideExposure : Part sunlight to sunBloom time : outpouring until frostColor : Creamy livid flowers , sullen unripened leafage
Also known as wintertime - blossom begonias , Riegers are usually develop as houseplant . They bloom best with shortsighted days and nerveless temperatures , and will often bloom for up to six month .
Pegasus ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersBegoniahybrid
Zones:9 - 11Height / Spread:12 to 18 inch tall , 16 to 18 inches wideExposure : Part shadowiness to shadeColor : Green foliage with splashes of ashen
This selection makes an surpassing ‘ thriller ’ in container and is also adaptable as a houseplant .
pic by : Dwi Windaryanto / Shutterstock.com
‘ Escargot’Rex
Zones:10 - 11Height / Spread:6 to 12 inches tall and wideExposure : Part shade to shadeBloom time : other summer until frostColor : Pink bloom , swirl silver and dark green foliation
An extremely pop multifariousness that make a nifty houseplant , this begonia get its name from the unique snail - similar foliage pattern .
Santa Cruz ® Begonia boliviensis
Zones:9 - 11Height / Spread:12 to 16 inch tall and wideExposure : Sun or shadeBloom time : Spring until frostColor : Scarlet - orange tree flowers , medium green leaves
An eye - capture choice for a container ‘ trotline . ’ Shown here peeking out from under Illusion ® Emerald Lace sweet potato vine .
Summerwings ® ApricotTuberous
Zones:9 - 11Height / Spread:8 to 12 inch tall and wideExposure : Part sunlight to sunBloom time : Spring until frostColor : Apricot flowers , medium unripened foliage
Another heat - tolerant variety that blooms all summer . The Summerwings ® series is also uncommitted in shades of red , coral , pale yellow and white .
photograph by : Bozhena Melnyk / Shutterstock.com
‘ Tiger Paws’Rhizomatous
Zones:10 - 11Height / Spread:10 to 12 column inch marvellous and wideExposure : Partial sunBloom time : SummerColor : Pale pink flowers ; diminished , chocolate to bronze - red leave with bright green markings resembling paw .
A little begonia , that is full-grown on gloss . Grows well indoors or out , in container , hanging baskets or flush bed .
DESIGN IDEAS FOR BEGONIAS:
GROWING BEGONIAS AS HOUSEPLANTS
Many begonias make excellent houseplants with the right care . Avoid overwatering - let the soil dry slightly between waterings - and boost humidity with a pebble tray . Place near a bright east- or west - facing window , or use originate lights if natural lighter is modified . Begonias choose to be slenderly root - reverberate , so only repot when necessary , ideally in spring .
search ourindoor begonia upkeep guide — light , water , and more made unproblematic .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Cold hardy tuberous begonia ( Begonia grandisvar.evansiana)Photo by : Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia
Are begonias poisonous?
begonia are toxic to pets , with the genus Tuber being the most poisonous part . They are not toxic to humans , although may have allergic reactions . See moreCommon venomous Plants for Dogs and Cats .
Are begonias deer resistant?
Begonias are cervid resistant .
Do begonias like sun or shade?
Begonias do best in partialshadeor a spot that encounter aurora sun and afternoon shade , but there are also miscellany that can tolerate full sun .
Do begonias come back every year?
Only in warm climates . begonia are sensitive perennials in Zones 9–11 but are usually grown as yearly elsewhere . Tuberous character can come back if you dig up and stash away the tubers over winter . Wax and cane types can be overwintered indoors as houseplants .
Do begonias do better in pots or in the ground?
begonia fly high in both pots and the ground , bet on the miscellany and your growing condition . Potted begonias are ideal for control over dirt , moisture , and light-headed , while in - terra firma planting works well in fishy , well - drained garden bed . Tuberous and Rex types often choose containers , while wax and hempen type do well in beds or borders .
Are there any cold-hardy begonias?
Begonia grandisvarieties are cold - brave plants suited for geographical zone 6 to 9 . They grow 12 to 18 inch improbable and wide and expand in part shade to full shade positioning . They ’ll bloom from other summertime until rime with cluster of slightly fragrant , light pinkish flowers , and they have magnanimous centre - shaped intermediate green leaves . industrial plant will die back completely in the fall and re-emerge in late springiness the following yr .
What are strawberry begonias?
Saxifraga stolonifera , often called strawberry begonia , has a standardized leafage structure — fuzzy , with immature and smooth-spoken variegation and hints of Red River — but is n’t a true begonia . It overspread like a strawberry industrial plant by get off out runners , or runner .
