Begonias are celebrated for their vibrant flowers and striking foliage, making them a favorite ornamental plant. These semi-tropical to tropical beauties are incredibly versatile, thriving in shade gardens, beds, borders, containers, and even as indoor houseplants. If you’re looking to add a splash of color to those less sunny areas, begonias are an excellent choice.
Originating from Central and South America, Asia, and Africa, begonias are known for their tolerance to low light conditions, making them perfect for brightening up shady spots around your home and garden. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Begonia Care, from planting to ongoing maintenance, ensuring your begonias flourish.
Understanding the Types of Begonias
Before diving into begonia care, it’s helpful to know the different types of begonias. Each type has unique characteristics that might influence your care approach:
Wax Begonias: These are perhaps the most common type, featuring waxy green or bronze leaves and flowers in white, red, or pink. Wax begonias are compact, typically growing 6 to 12 inches tall and wide, making them ideal bedding plants.
Rhizomatous Begonias: Distinguished by their rhizomes, which grow horizontally just beneath the soil surface, rhizomatous begonias are known for their spectacular foliage. The leaves come in a dazzling array of colors, shapes, and intricate patterns.
Tuberous Begonias: Growing from tubers, tuberous begonias are known for their large, brightly colored flowers and often have a trailing habit. They are perfect for hanging baskets but go dormant in the winter.
Cane Begonias: These begonias have a distinctive upright growth habit, with some varieties, like Angel Wing begonias, showcasing highly decorative foliage. Their structure adds vertical interest to gardens and containers.
Rex Begonias: Rex begonias are all about the foliage. Grown exclusively for their leaves, which exhibit a wide range of shapes, patterns, and colors including red, pink, burgundy, purple, green, and silver, they are true showstoppers.
Planting Begonias for Success
Proper planting is crucial for successful begonia care. Here’s how to plant begonias to give them the best start:
When to Plant: Wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50°F (10°C) before planting begonias outdoors.
Choosing the Right Location: Select a location that offers rich, well-draining soil and protection from the harsh afternoon sun. Begonia light requirements vary by type, but most appreciate partial shade.
Planting Steps:
- Prepare the Soil: Loosen the soil in your chosen planting area.
- Dig the Hole: Dig a hole that is slightly wider and deeper than the begonia’s root ball.
- Remove from Pot: Gently take the begonia plant out of its nursery pot and tease apart any roots that are tightly packed.
- Position the Plant: Place the begonia in the hole, ensuring the base of the stem is level with the surrounding soil.
- Backfill and Water: Fill the hole with soil, gently firming it around the plant to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting.
- Spacing: Space begonia plants 6 to 18 inches apart, depending on the mature size of the variety.
- Initial Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist until the plants are well-established.
Essential Begonia Care Tips
Once planted, ongoing begonia care is relatively straightforward. Here are key aspects to consider:
Soil: Begonias thrive in rich, well-draining soil. If planting in containers, use a high-quality, all-purpose potting mix and ensure pots have good drainage holes.
Watering: Consistent moisture is key, but avoid soggy conditions. Allow the top two inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Begonias exhibit some drought tolerance once established, but overwatering is a common mistake that can lead to root rot. Water at the base of the plant, avoiding wetting the leaves to minimize the risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
Fertilizing: Begonias are moderate feeders and benefit from regular fertilization. At planting time, incorporate a balanced slow-release granular fertilizer into the soil. Alternatively, use a liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength monthly throughout the growing season to support continuous blooming.
Pruning: Begonias require minimal pruning. If plants become leggy, you can pinch back stem tips to encourage bushier growth. Begonia flowers are self-cleaning, meaning they naturally drop spent blooms, so deadheading is not necessary.
Overwintering: In regions colder than USDA zones 9-11, begonias need overwintering indoors.
- For all types except tuberous begonias: Bring plants indoors before temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C). Place them in a bright window and reduce watering, keeping the soil just slightly moist.
- For tuberous begonias: These go dormant in winter. After the first frost, carefully dig up the tubers. Clean off excess soil and store them in peat moss or sawdust in a cool, dark place where temperatures stay around 50°F (10°C). In early spring, repot the tubers in fresh potting soil and start watering lightly until temperatures are warm enough to move them back outdoors.
For more detailed guidance on overwintering, refer to resources specifically about overwintering begonias.
Popular Begonia Varieties from Proven Winners®
Explore these exceptional begonia varieties to enhance your garden and containers:
| Double Up™ Red (Begonia semperflorens): This wax begonia boasts vibrant double lipstick-red flowers against dark burgundy-green foliage. Its sun and shade tolerance makes it versatile for various garden spots. Double Up™ Red is known for its vigor, compact form, and self-cleaning blooms, eliminating the need for deadheading. |
|---|
| Double Up™ Pink (Begonia semperflorens): Featuring double pink flowers that pop against glossy dark green leaves, Double Up™ Pink is a vigorous, continuously blooming plant. Its self-cleaning flowers and adaptability to sun or shade make it a low-maintenance choice for bedding or containers. |
| Double Up™ White (Begonia semperflorens): Double Up™ White offers a dense, compact habit with abundant pure white double flowers that beautifully contrast with dark burgundy-green foliage. This versatile begonia suits any landscape style, perfect for edging borders, pathways, or mass plantings. |
| Surefire® Red (Begonia benariensis): Surefire® Red grows larger than typical wax begonias, featuring bigger, rich red single flowers and glossy dark green leaves. Its upright habit and non-stop blooming make a dramatic impact in mass plantings and containers. |
| Surefire® Rose (Begonia benariensis): Surefire® Rose presents large, deep pink flowers and dark reddish-brown foliage on tall, vigorous plants. Sun and shade tolerant, it blooms continuously from planting to frost, ideal for landscapes or as a thriller in shade containers. |
| Surefire® White (Begonia benariensis): Surefire® White excels in diverse conditions, from sun to shade, with bright green foliage that complements pure white single flowers. Its self-cleaning nature ensures easy, low-maintenance color in borders, mass plantings, and containers, blooming all season long. |
| Surefire® Cherry Cordial™ (Begonia x hybrida): Surefire® Cherry Cordial™ offers dramatic contrast with dark purple, almost black foliage and bright red flowers. Its compact, spreading growth and continuous bloom make it perfect for adding color to beds, borders, and containers throughout summer without deadheading. |
| Double Delight® Blush Rose (Begonia tuberhybrida): Double Delight® Blush Rose is a tuberous begonia with lightly fragrant, warm pastel coral-pink and yellow double rose-like blooms. Its vigorous trailing habit is ideal for hanging baskets, and tubers can be overwintered for reuse. |
| Double Delight® Primrose (Begonia tuberhybrida): Double Delight® Primrose features soft apricot-accented yellow scented double flowers on sturdy trailing stems, perfect for patio planters and hanging baskets. Overwinter tubers indoors to enjoy them again next spring. |
| Proven Accents® Pegasus (Begonia hybrid): Proven Accents® Pegasus is prized for its dissected dark green foliage with silver patterns. It creates a stunning display in beds or as a thriller element in containers, and can be overwintered indoors as a houseplant. |
Common Questions About Begonia Care (FAQ’s)
Are begonias perennials?
Begonias are considered tender perennials, hardy in USDA Zones 9-11. In these frost-free zones, they can live year-round outdoors. In colder climates, they are typically grown as annuals unless brought indoors for the winter.
Do begonias prefer sun or shade?
Begonias are quite adaptable regarding light, tolerating conditions from full sun to full shade. However, they generally thrive in partial shade, especially in warmer climates where protection from intense afternoon sun is beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. Darker-leaved varieties can usually handle more sunlight than green-leaved types.
Will begonias bloom every year?
In zones 9-11, begonias can naturally bloom year after year. In colder zones, you can ensure annual blooms by overwintering them indoors and replanting them each spring.
What’s the secret to keeping begonias blooming?
Consistent begonia care is key to continuous blooming. Ensure they receive adequate water, regular fertilizer, and optimal light conditions as per their variety.
Can begonias handle full sun?
While some begonias can tolerate full sun, especially in cooler northern regions, most prefer and perform best in partial shade.
Creative Ways to Use Begonias in Your Landscape
Begonias are incredibly versatile for landscape design. Here are some inspiring ideas:
- Mass Plantings: Create a vibrant, continuous color display by mass planting wax begonias in a semi-shaded bed.
- Hanging Baskets: Use colorful tuberous begonias in hanging baskets to add dramatic floral displays to porches and patios.
- Pathway Edges: Define shaded pathways or garden borders with low-growing wax begonias for consistent, low-maintenance color.
- Mixed Containers: Combine begonias with other shade-loving annuals in decorative containers for porches, patios, balconies, or decks.
- Under Shade Trees: Brighten up dark areas under shade trees by massing begonias beneath them.
- Foliage Focus: Utilize rex begonias for their striking foliage in containers, beds, and borders to add textural and color contrast.
- Window Boxes: Design charming window boxes with begonias alongside other shade-tolerant annuals like wishbone flower, coleus, lobelia, and sweet potato vine.
- “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” Containers: Employ upright begonias as thrillers, and trailing varieties as spillers in mixed container arrangements for dynamic designs.
- Indoor Accents: Bring begonias indoors as houseplants to add life and color to tables, shelves, and desktops, especially during winter months.
For more ideas to enhance your home’s curb appeal with flowers, explore resources on boosting curb appeal with flowers.
Best Companion Plants for Begonias
When selecting companion plants for begonias, consider those with similar needs for partial sun, rich well-draining soil, and regular watering.
For Hanging Baskets: Pair Double Delight® tuberous begonias with:
- Fuchsias
- Impatiens
- Lobelia
For Beds and Borders: Mass Double Up™ wax begonias with:
- Coleus
- Hostas
- ferns
- Caladiums
For Decorative Containers: Plant Surefire® hybrid begonias with:
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower)
- Creeping Jenny
- Polka Dot Plant
Discover more begonia combination ideas and recipes at begonia recipes.
Want to Explore Further?
Have more questions? Ask a Question or Give Feedback about this guide.
