18 Intriguing Begonias Chosen From The Mind-Boggling Array Of Varieties
Reviewed By DAN ORI
Dan has over 27 years’ under his belt caring for plants and gardens. Working as a Horticultural Instructor and Consultant, he draws on a diverse range of experience that includes working as a Head Gardener, Tree Surgeon, Garden Centre Trouble Shooter, and writer of academic papers. Dan has a Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture and is currently a candidate for the RHS’s most prestigious award – The Master of Horticulture.
Contributions From JANEEN RANDLE
Janeen Randle is the president of the Melbourne Begonia Society. The society is based in Australia and many members, including Janeen, breed their own Begonias and visit flower shows across the country.
IN THIS GUIDE
Available in such a mind-boggling array of species, cultivars, hybrids, begonias are among the most popular flowers for gardens and are popular as houseplants too.
Many may begin by considering the colour of the flowers on certain cultivars.
However, to make the right choice, it is first important to think about which type of begonia to grow.
Begonias can be categorised according to whether they are grown outdoors, or as houseplants indoors.
They are further broken down according to their root systems and growth habits, which determine many elements of their care.
Outdoors, you can grow:
- Tuberous Begonia
- Hardy Tuberous Begonia
- Fibrous-Rooted Begonia
Indoors Begonia are typically divided into:
- Fibrous-Rooted Begonia
- Cane-Stemmed Begonia
- Rhizomatous Begonia
- Semi-Tuberous Begonia
As impossible as it is to cover the varieties of a genus whose species number to 1,900-plus and whose cultivars exceed 10,000, below we’ll take a look at each of the main categories and suggest which varieties to grow within each of these.1A Taxonomic Revision Of Begonia Veitchii (Begoniaceae). (2020). Edinburgh Journal of Botany, 77(1), 127–144. https://journals.rbge.org.uk/ejb/article/download/1753/1644/4860
Our selection is also meant to represent at least some of the astonishing depth and breadth of this genus.
One variety may be a sight to see in big beds and a related one along a bigger border, while others would be best for a dainty hanging basket on the porch or a petite pot on the parapet.
Expert Chosen Varieties
Before we get to our primary list, we asked Begonia expert Janeen Randle (President of the Melbourne Begonia Society) to share her favourite varieties.
“My favourite begonias to grow are cane begonias and trailing varieties,” says Janeen.
“Begonias, particularly cane begonias, flower for such a long time where I live so there is always colour in the garden.”
“The semi-tuberous species Begonia dregei, a native of South Africa also known as the ‘Maple Leaf’ begonia, is my favourite,” she explains.
“This beautiful plant forms a caudex at its base instead of a tuber and grows beautifully in a bonsai pot.
“The hybrid Begonia ‘Weltoniensis’ also forms a caudex and is among my favourites.
“I enjoy Rhizomatous and Rex begonias for their striking, colourful, textured leaves rather than their not-so-showy delicate flowers.
“I am just venturing into growing tuberous begonias on a small scale.”
Tuberous Begonia For Outdoors
Begonia varieties within this group are typically derived from Begonia x tuberhybrida and varieties derived from B. boliviensis are also widely available.
These Begonias grow from tubers, which can be planted in spring.
B. x tuberhybrida varieties are prized for their bright colours and their long blooming period.
Plants bear both male and female flowers separately on the same specimen – the male flowers are the stars of the show.
B. boliviensis varieties are free flowering and floriferous.
Some have excellent trailing or cascading forms which means they can be a great choice for raised containers or hanging baskets.
Tuberous Begonias can be planted out in summer into beds and borders, but are particularly popular for growing in containers and hanging baskets.
Container cultivation makes it easier to lift and store tubers in winter, so the plants can be enjoyed over multiple years.
Though often, these plants will be enjoyed only over a single season.
One To Try: B. boliviensis ‘Million Kisses Series’
The ‘Million Kisses’ series has a range of plants flowering in different colours which have a semi-trailing habit and which are great for containers and hanging baskets.
‘Yadev’ aka ‘Devotion’ is one option in this range, with an Award of Garden Merit.
It has bright velvety red flowers held on pink stems above slender, sharply pointed green leaves edged in pale pink.
Hardy Tuberous Begonia For Outdoors
Another category includes those tuberous Begonia which are somewhat more hardy.
These can be exotic plants to add to sunny or part-shaded borders in the late summer.
With the protection of some mulch, they may be able to overwinter in the ground in the mildest areas, especially if placed in a sheltered spot, perhaps at the foot of a warm, south-facing wall.
However, the tubers should still be lifted in most areas and overwintered in dry storage at temperatures above 2-4°C.
One To Try: Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana (AGM)
The hardiest variety to try in this category is B. grandis subsp. evansiana.
This is hardy down to around 0°C.
This has olive green leaves which are sometimes reddish underneath, and in the summer months, bears mildly fragrant pale pink or white flowers 2.3cm in diameter.
Fibrous-Rooted Begonia For Outdoors
Fibrous-rooted Begonia – varieties of B. semperflorens – are tender perennials but are usually grown as annual bedding plants.
These can be grown from seed or purchased as young plants.
They produce white, pink or red flowers throughout the summer and up until the first frosts.
These are one of only a few bedding plants which can grow and flower satisfactorily in partial shade.
One To Try: B. ‘Ambassador Series’
The ‘Ambassador’ Series (e.g. ‘Ambassador Rose’) is one group of free-flowering Begonia of this type to consider.
This is a series of free-flowering bedding Begonia growing to around 20cm high, and blooming with flowers in a range of hues all summer long.
Hardiness H1B.
Fibrous-Rooted Begonia For Indoors
For indoors growing, the first of the four groups are further fibrous-rooted Begonias.
These are tender perennials which have erect and sometimes shrub-like stems.
Some are grown for their flowers but typically, these are prized particularly for their striking and bold foliage, which is often marked with silver or other hues.
B. metallica and B. scharffii are two well-known options within this group.
One To Try: Begonia metallica (AGM)
This bushy evergreen perennial grows to around a metre in height, and has large, dramatic leaves of a dark green metallic hue, with red colouration on the veins and underside.
The foliage is the main attraction, but these plants also have small, hairy pale pink flowers which are borne in autumn.
Grow in acidic or neutral medium soil.
Hardiness H1B.
Cane-Stemmed Begonia For Indoors
These Begonias are also fibrous-rooted, but they have woody and erect, bamboo-like stems with swollen nodes along their length.
These Begonias are also prized as houseplants, primarily grown for their large, drooping flowers which bloom over a relatively long period, and their marked foliage.
Most Begonia varieties in this category originate with plants which hail from Brazil.
These include B. maculata and B. stipulata.
One To Try: B. ‘Lucerna’
This is a vigorous houseplant, with erect cane stems, olive green broadly ovate leaves heavily spotted with silver.
In the summer months, it bears large panicles of pink flowers 3-4cm across.
Grow in acidic or neutral medium in a warm indoor spot.
Hardiness H1B.
Rhizomatous Begonia For Indoors
Begonias of this category grow from a creeping rootstock.
These tender, evergreen perennials are foliage plants – grown and prized for their brightly coloured leaves.
Popular options within this category for use as houseplants include B. rex and B. masoniana.
One To Try: B. rex (King Begonia)
This grows to around 30cm tall, and has large leaves which are metallic green with a silvery surface zone on the upper surface of the leaves and a reddish colouration beneath.
Though flowers are not the main attraction, the plant also bears panicles of small pink flowers in winter.
Hardiness H1B.
There are some amazing foliage plant cultivars of B. rex, including ‘Namur’, ‘Fireworks’ and ‘Green Sparkles’.
Semi-Tuberous Begonia For Indoors
These houseplant begonias are cultivars of B. x hiemalis, also known as B. x elatior.
These varieties are hybrids between B. socotrana and B. tuberhybrida.
They are usually winter-blooming and are frequently grown by florists.
They are not ideal for long-term cultivation and so are usually discarded after they have flowered.
One To Try: B. x hiemalis ‘Solenia Range’
This is one range of this type of houseplant Begonia, with a wide range of colours, which can perform and flower very well.
However, other Begonias will still generally be better choices if you want a houseplant that you can enjoy over a longer time period.
More Begonia Varieties
Of course, the options above are just a brief introduction and just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many different Begonia you could choose.
Here are thirteen more interesting begonia varieties to grow, irrespective of their category or type:
B. aconitifolia
Bearing attractive slate-green leaves with opposing white streaks or spots, the flower is one of the most feminine in the genus, being pale pink with delicate petals arranged in panicles.
B. brevirimosa
A robust species reaching a height of 3m, if anything its foliage is even more striking than the plant, having variegated striping of forest green and a brilliant mauve on broad, chunky leaves.
B. semperflorens ‘Doublet White’
The olive green waxy leaves are pretty in themselves but the profusion of tiny double blossoms of the ‘Doublet’ cultivar steal the show, with ‘Doublet White’ resembling balls of fluffy snow.
B. ‘Escargot’
Reminding one of a snail’s shell, it has a distinct silvery whorl or spiral on a slate-green background on a massive obtuse-to-rounded leaf whose petiole has noticeable red hairs
B. solananthera
One of the rarer climbers, it has beautiful, smooth wavy, sea-green leaves which are more than matched by clusters of distinctive flowers having irregular creamy petals with a red centre.
B. ‘Summer Jewels Mixed’
One of the most charming of varieties and akin to hillside wildflowers, this cultivar spreads and trails, showing off lush green foliage and simple-form flowers in white, and pink and red shades.
B. ‘Munchkin’
Only 20cm tall but broad and bushy, the plant has smoky, bronze-green coloured leaves that are crinkly, almost frilled, at the edges, topped off by light green veins with deep red colouring on the underside
B. ‘Illumination Apricot’
Sunset and flame more than apricot, the gorgeous deep yellow and orange hues of the sprays of single and double flowers atop textured, smoky, deep green leaves make for a dramatic plant.
B. ‘Silver Jewell’
Bearing big broad leaves that are lightly puckered and almost cordate, it is the colour combination that is a work of art: viz. painted straps, streaks, and dapples of silver-to-cream on a deep green background.
B. ‘Ziggy’
Bred to give stiff competition to roses – or simply be mistaken for a rose! – the ornate and showy flower is feminine and tender, and comes in a narrow range of colours from pink-tinged white to a deep pink, with the pale pink variety being the showstopper.
B. ‘Regal Minuet’
While the form of the leaves is striking enough, being near-sagittate with toothed edges and a sharp point, the lustrous lamina with a purple-magenta hue and dark star at the base is the eye-puller.