Begonia is a very large genus hold more nearly 2,000 yearly , perennial , and woody shrub specie aboriginal to tropical and subtropical climate around the mankind . They are typically used as houseplants and in shaded summer beds . Some are farm for their crooked , patterned and variegated foliation , and others to contribute color to umbrageous garden areas with their vivid blooms . Although typically on the smaller side , begonia plants pack a big punch of vividness and interest .
Many begonia are suit better to outdoor culture , and are broadly grown from cloak-and-dagger root structures referred totubers . Begonias are uprise as annual flower , filling infinite between perennials or add together animation to deck and patios in pots . Among the thousands of uncommitted varieties of begonia , almost 95 % require easy concern . In this article we discuss the most common variety of Begonia .
1. Tuberous Begonias
Tuberous begonias(Begonia tuberosa)add bright colour and attractive green foliage to suspect , well - drained areas of the garden . Tuberous varieties grow from a swollen etymon tuber , which stores energy and food for the plant through the summer emergence period . The flowers remain in peak for most of summertime and into free fall , requiring only minimum criminal maintenance when planted in the right location .
Tuberous begonias are popular for their beautiful flowers that come in a variety of color and descriptor . Red , orange , yellow , white , salmon and pink blooms may be single or double and may be patent , ruffled or toothed . Their flower petal may have margins , top or splodge of contrasting colour .
Tuberous begonias blossom throughout the summer , thrive in fishy spots where few other plant with long efflorescence periods and flamboyant flowers can grow . They are often used as container plants on patios and porch , in fall basket , and as bedding plant life .
Tuberous begonia species are aboriginal to tropical South America and southern Africa . Most varieties useable in garden centers or though catalogs are hybrid with complex parentage , but all share the same growing requirements .
2. Semperflorens Begonias
Begonia semperflorens - cultorum was named for its longsighted salad days menstruation , from semperflorens , mean ‘ ever - blooming ’ . The common name , wax begonia , refer to the waxy sheen of the leaves . The genus was named in honour of Michel Bégon ( 1638 - 1710 ) , a French amateur botanist who pull in begonias from while he was send in Santo Domingo with the French United States Navy .
The wax begonia group , categorized asBegonia x semperflorensorSemperflorens Cultorum Group , represent change used primarily as bedding annuals , though they are technically warm - weather perennials . These fibrous - root plant have a summary , bushy mounded configuration with physique stems , dark green or bronze waxy leaves , and promiscuous clusters of flowers that blossom all summertime and into fall .
Wax begonia is one of the most pop have sex plant in landscaping . Innumerable flats of these sturdy plants are poked into the soil every spring to make lush bed of flowers . The reasons for this sonorous use are obvious — they’re durable , ever - blooming plant that provide sweeping color in exclusive or dual blooms .
Wax begonia are normally planted in the spring from bedding flats or pot works started in a greenhouse environment . They can also be planted from seed , though the plant are quite slowly - growing at first , and it can take several months for them to senesce to flower plant life . For this reason , seeds are usually commence indoors about 12 weeks before the last expected frost .
3. Cane-like Begonias
Cane - like begonias have tough , bamboo - same stems and are prized for their strikingly patterned leaves , and many feature attractive and fragrant flowers as well . Cane - like begonias have long stems with slimly self-conceited joint ( “ nodes”)-they resemble bamboo . The leaves and heyday rebel from the joints . With optimal care , some cultivars can reach six groundwork or more in top in a container , as much as 15 feet or so in the ground in mild winter areas . Others remain short enough for indoor polish . Cane - like begonia are farm for both foliage , which sometimes is spotted or textured , and bloom , usually large , cascading clusters of white , pinkish , red , or orangish , for a large part of the year . Timing varies from miscellanea to variety .
Most cane - like begonias are not particular about temperature or humidity . Any compass that is well-off for people is okay . If leaves brown and get curt on the edge , the humidness is too low . If leaves jaundiced and return off , you are watering too often . These begonias rarely need staking , but require pruning in winter or early bounce : remove old , woody cane and shorten unripe ones to about four or five nodes , some canes longer and others shorter . ( New canes just starting should be result alone . ) Repot into impertinent mix at the same meter .
4. Rex Begonias (Begonia Rex-cultorum)
A Begonia Rex flora , also called aPainted - Leaf Begonia , a Fancy - Leaf Begonia , or King Begonia , is among the various case of begonias , Rex Begonia ( which is part of the rhizomatous begonias ) is one of the most beautiful and arresting plant and are favor not for their flower , but for their interesting foliage . Sometimes called paint - leafage begonia or fancy - leaf begonia , these plant are experience for their showy , sometimes jaw - dropping leaf colouration and patterns . They frequently have big leaves that are brightly colored in various shades of green , crimson , silver , and even purple . The leaves of Rex Begonias can grow up to 9 inches tenacious and 5 inch across , while the plants ordinarily reach height of 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall . These flora are grow almost exclusively for their interesting foliage — their blooms tend to be minuscule and less showy , so many growers pinch off blossom to maintain breathtaking leaf displays . Some type of Rex Begonias go into sleeping during the winter .
5. Hiemalis Begonia
The Hiemalis begonia(Begonia x hiemalis),a cut through between a wax begonia and a tuberous begonia , is prize for its waxy green leafage and the brightly dyed flowers that flower profusely from spring until autumn . This hardy , easy - forethought annual reaches elevation of 10 to 12 inches , with a spread of 10 to 12 inch . Also known as Rieger begonia , the Hiemalis begonia is suitable for implant in container , hang up baskets or flower beds in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 9 to 11 .
6. Trailing-Scandents
Trailing - scandent begonias grow vine - like , unremarkably with many branches , and impart themselves wondrously to hanging baskets or being develop up posts , trellises , and “ totem poles . ” Most are packed with small leave-taking and bloom in clusters more or less extravagantly , the flowering season change from plant to plant .
These begonias are good subjects to produce hang from tree tree branch , under lath covert or nursery roofs , and in front of with child window . These begonias involve peck of light source , even some sunshine , but no intense noonday sun . Good light will help oneself make a full plant with lots of flower . If folio stems linear and the space between stalk joints get magnanimous , you know the industrial plant needs more light . if the leafage pale , you are provide excessive light . The usual comfortable temperature compass for people , 58 to 72 stage F. , is right-hand for trailing - scandent begonia . The humidity requirement is average for begonias — 40 to 60 percent or so .
7. Shrub-like Begonias
Shrub - like begonia get their name from the elbow room they rise with many shoot coming up from the dirt to make a full plant . They are very multi - cauline , in other words , they have a well - branched , just shape and produce vigorously . Most varieties do not flower as often or as heavy as the cane - like begonia but some are ever blooming and are used as bedding plants across the nation . The shrub type is grow mostly for its ease of arise ; interesting leave , and full growth . Most shrubs have white flowers but there are passel of pinkish and red I also , and many have hairy flowers .
They bloom abundantly from October onwards , all through summer and fall , even into winter in mild suburb . Some flower literally all class . They seem to be at their very peak around March . They are drought- and heat - broad , flower well in semi - wraith and can all be grown in good deal as well as in the garden . They are splendid for flower arrangements , lasting for historic period in a vase . There are over 300 species and cultivars spring up in gardens today . Most of the mintage originated in Central and Southern America and seem absolutely suited to Sydney ’s climate .
8. Elatior Begonias
The Elatior Begonia is a hybrid made by an English plant breeder James Veitch back in 1883 . It ’s a crossbreed of two specie — Begoniasocotranaand a tuberous begonia type . The Begoniasocotrananatively come fromScootra , an Island a few miles away from East Africa ’s coastline , while the latter was found in the tropic regions of South America .
Elatior begonias ( Begonia x hiemalis ) adorn home across much of the United States , as these inflorescence plants are useable year - round from florists and greenhouses . Typically grow as a summer one-year , this plant life can be grow out of doors in a sheltered location where temperatures range from 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit .
9. Thick-stemmed Begonias
The chummy - stemmed type are not as widely grown but come in various forms . They all have very thick shank . Most thick - stemmed types do n’t ramify much but send up new ontogenesis from the base . They also show off the thick stems because they drop their lower leaf and ordinarily only have foliage on the tips .
The wooden-headed - stanch begonias seldom branch – instead , they produce newfangled stalk from the cornerstone to put back sometime , woody , spent ones . With a few exception , they are seasonal blooper if they bloom at all . Some efflorescence very sparsely , even in good cultural conditions . leaf can be bare or hirsute , depending on the flora .
These begonias require lots of Dominicus to maturate heavy and as full as potential , although intense sun in hot areas is to be avoid . Their temperature requirements are flexible . Almost any range well-situated to humans will do . In temperatures near freezing , however , many variety will go abeyant , drop leaf and suspending growth . Thick - halt begonias postulate no special high - humidity precondition — a range of 40 to 50 percent is sufficient .
Because of their tendency to grow tall without branching , it often is difficult to train thick - stemmed begonias into compact , pleasing physique . gage a bow that is going askew or that is wilt when it is opine to uprise vertical . Pruning lie in the first place of polish off old , naked staunch to make room for novel , green , vigorous unity as they look . Pinching new stems is the way to force side maturation and control condition plant height .
10. Rhizomatous Begonias
Rhizomatous begonias are a gravid group ofBegoniaspecies , crossbreed and selections characterise by large , sometimes - colorful leafage uprise from thick , fuzzy stem - like structures or rhizomes that grow along the land surface . Because the plants store water in the rootstalk , they are tough and more tolerant of neglect than other type of begonia . Depending on the variety , rhizomatous begonias range from demure plants with 1 - inch leaves to plants big enough to require a wide , stalwart container .
Flowers fall out in late winter to spring , depend on the species , cultivar and conditions , and are quite glossy on some selections . Flowers typically are blank to various shades of pinkish and occur in a cluster ( technically call a cyme ) give above the foliage , in some slip dramatically high above the foliage . Individual flowers may grade in size from 3/8 - in to over 2 inch at their widest point and a flower cluster may hold a few to over 120 case-by-case flower , depending on selection and growing conditions . Although it is often grown as an indoor works , rhizomatous begonia is suitable for grow outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 and 11 . Some types are used in north Florida as herbaceous perennial that add bold leaf grain and colour as well as heyday to umbrageous gardens .
11. Dragon Wing Begonias
Dragon wing begonias(Begonia x argenteoguttata)are a blossom perennial plant , loan-blend of the angel extension and wax begonia . They are vigorous growers , reaching up to 2 ft ( 60 atomic number 96 ) tall — and will open about as spacious . This intercrossed variety has a longer blooming period than other cultivars of this plant folk and can develop up to 3 feet grandiloquent . The flowers of the dragon wing begonia plant are usually pink , white or red , but may be hear in other colors . However , Red is the most common flower color seen on the dragon wing begonia . The heat tolerant peak appear at the tip of the branches in clustering . Dragon wing begonia have larger parting and flush than other begonia varieties . The works is also self - pruning , meaning old efflorescence will naturally shed as new ones appear .
12. Double Begonias
Double begonias(Begonia semperflorens)brighten up terrace planters , windowpane box and garden beds with showy double blossoms . These low - growing annual are idealistic as a bedding works . They produce from 6 - to-18 column inch tall and blossom from early summer through the first frost . Double begonias are the same species as singe flower begonia . Double begonias are cultivated varieties that have flowers with double sets of blossom flower petal . Other common names are wax begonia and bedding begonia .
13. Begonia ‘Hanging Basket Scarlet’
innocent - flowering Begonia ‘ hang basket scarlet ’ is a tuberous recurrent self-praise attracting cascades of special - big , 2 - 5 inch , fully double , bright scarlet - cherry-red flowers . Blooming extravagantly from late give to icing , they dangle with elegance from arch stems gestate green fleshy leaves adorned with serrated edges . The excellent separate habit of this tuberous begonia results in a brilliant floral display . It is a wonderful subtlety loving plant life for containers and hanging baskets .
14. Begonias ‘Giant Picotee Mixed’
Begonia ‘ Giant Picotee Mixed ’ is an just , tender perennial with large and magnificent , semi - rippled white flowers , up to 4 - 8 inches , embellish with shining pinkish petal tips . Begonia ‘ Giant Picotee Mixed ’ is utter for growing in crapper and hang baskets and flourish in full Sunday to fond shade .
15. (Fringed) Fimbriata Begonias Mixed
Multi flowering fringe begonia look remarkably like the more showy salmagundi of gillyflower , but will succumb more flowers set closer together and over a much retentive period of time . They put on a resplendent presentation all summertime long blooming from summer onwards . They work enceinte in hanging baskets , borderline or just indoors in large corporation on a sunny location .
