Everyone who grows begonias knows their fascination. Sooner or later, even the beginner becomes a collector.
For almost invariably, a first acquaintance with the handsome foliage of one species or showy flowers of another marks the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship with the entire begonia family.
For the past 20 years, I’ve pursued such a friendship —sometimes on trails around the world—to meet up with some of the finest personalities in the entire Plant world.
Window Garden Adaptable Begonias
Begonias have proved their adaptability to window gardens through generations of good indoor behavior.
Whether your windows are sunny or shady, you’ll find begonias that will thrive. The countless species and varieties fall into three groups: fibrous-rooted, tuberous-rooted, and rhizomatous.
Foliage and flowers of the fibrous-rooted, which have a central stalk, are extremely variable. This group includes many free-flowering forms.
The tuberous-rooted have come to the fore in recent years with the advent of the gorgeous large-blossomed hybrids. Mainly summer-flowering, they’re not considered house plants.
The rhizomatous are begonia royalty, for they’re so easy to grow. Tolerant even of bad treatment, they more than satisfy the house plant lover who has trouble growing plants.
They are distinguished by creeping rootstock and include both small and large-leaved types. Lovely-leaved Rex is in this group.
Begonia Mazae
Among the many fine new begonias being disseminated is fibrous-rooted BEGONIA MAZAE. This species is 4 1946 introduction by Thomas MacDougall, who explored Mexico for many years. Of busby growth and easy culture, it’s an appealing house subject.
The round leaves, pointed at the tip, are a satiny bronze on top and glistening garnet beneath. Sinuses are white and very pronounced.
ln midwinter, B. mazae swings graceful sprays of bright pink bloom high above the foliage. Allergic to wet feet, it requires careful watering and grows best in partial sun. It is propagated from cuttings or seeds.
Star Begonia: Joe Hayden
JOE HAYDEN is a beautiful and distinctive cross of B. mazae and reichenheim, one of the star begonias.
It was produced by the well-known California hybridist Rudolph Ziesenhenne. The star-shaped leaves are darker than B. mazae, with rich bronze undersides; in midwinter, this compact plant is a commotion of color with large clusters of pink flowers overtopping the foliage. It is propagated by division of rhizomes or by leaves rooted in sand and peat moss.
Begonia Bowerae
“The begonia with the eyelashes,” Rhizomatous B. bowerae, is another MacDougall discovery. The long maroon hairs extend out from the chocolate-speckled leaf edges to give it its name.
This adorable little miniature, which requires little space, deserves a place in every window garden. It can be propagated by cuttings from the creeping stems or mature leaves.
Leaves should be cut close to the stem, dipped in hormone powder, and planted about ½” inch deep in sand and peat.
Water well and keep in a shaded location, and growth will start in about three weeks. When plants have developed several leaves, they’re ready to be potted. B. boweri grows best in partial shade and should be kept moderately moist.
Fusco Maculata
FUSCO MACULATA is another rhizomatous begonia that is easy to grow. It’s a very old variety, developed in England in 1883 and known for many years as Rubeola or Rubella.
The olive green leaves speckled in chocolate are broad with pointed lobes, contrasting beautifully with the greenish-white flower clusters high above them. The blooms last many long winter months.
Winter Blooming Hybrids
Two fine winter-blooming hybrids in the thick-stemmed group are PAUL BRUANT and BESSIE BUXTON.
The former has large glossy green leaves, pointed and toothed at the edges, and bears panicles of bright pink blooms, which last for weeks.
Bessie Buxton, named for our famous first lady of begonias, is a pond-lily leafy type. It produces many sprays of light pink flowers.
Begonia Scharffiana
The hairy-leaved begonia is a distinctive group in the fibrous class, with many excellent hybrids and species. Outstanding is B. SCHARFFIANA, which looks like an antique print.
This species is a low compact grower with slightly cupped leaves, thickly covered with white hairs, and resembles bronze velvet.
Leaf undersides are dark red. Flowers occur at the ends of long, slightly hairy branches, but the plant’s beauty lies in its rich foliage.
Begonia Limminghei
There are many excellent trailing begonias ideal for hanging baskets. BEGONIA LIMMINGHEI is the most beautiful in both form and color.
Glossy, bright green wedge-shaped leaves cover the trailing stems, while close clusters of coral bloom fire the plant in winter and early spring.
Partial sun is needed to encourage bloom. An old favorite, this hybrid was known as B. glaucophylla scandens for many years.
Fragrant-flowered Begonias
Fragrant-flowered begonias, which are few, lend versatility to the begonia collection. The fibrous class’s parent is B. NITIDA ODORATA (B. odorata alba).
This tall variety’s large, slightly cupped leaves are a glossy, bright green. Flowers are pure white and occur in large clusters.
Their sweet fragrance is more pronounced in the morning—also when plants are grown in direct sunlight.
TEA ROSE, a hybrid of B. nitida, was produced in Oregon by Leslie Woodriff. Growth habit is much like the old-fashioned wax begonia. The loose clusters of bright pink flowers are as fragrant as the name implies.
Begonia Venosa
Felt-leaved B. VENOSA also boasts fragrance. Ivory spice-scented flowers emerge from the top growth. And once the plant begins blooming, it may continue for three years.
The round leaves of this Brazilian species are so covered with white fuzz that they resemble felt. As the leaf matures, the curious calax becomes transparent and feels like paper.
Begonia Rex
BEGONIA REX is truly the king of the begonia world, so numerous are the varieties today derived from the original rex. The latter was introduced into England from Assam, India, in 1856.
Leaves vary from silver to rose, dark red, and rich violet. Shade-loving rex begonias are summer growers, thriving under warm, humid conditions. However, several are year-round growers and excellent in north windows.
FIRE FLUSH is my favorite because it holds its leaves well in winter. Leaves are green and covered with bright red hairs so thickly set they look like pieces of velvet plush.
White flowers hang in small clusters beneath the foliage. I’ve found them as fragrant as violets.
Speculata
The grape-leaf begonia is a fine old Rex variety. The shallowly lobed leaves are gray-green, with lighter areas reflecting silver.
Flowers are lovely in midwinter. White-tinged with pink as they mature, they contrast beautifully with the foliage.
Begonia Semperflorens
Any collection would be incomplete without the old-fashioned wax begonia, B. SEMPERFLORENS, or its hybrids.
In recent years, many fine new doubles have been produced. The well-known Logee hybrids, originated by the late Ernest Kimball Logee, are a group of thimble and double-flowered varieties on dark carmen foliage.
Blooms range from white through red, rose, and pink.
44659 by Joy Logee Martin