North of the City
March/April 2008
She’s a sultry South American beauty, endowed by nature with the power to delight those who please her. Demanding? She can be. You just need to know how to handle her. She’s worth a bit of extra effort, though.
She’s the tuberous begonia, a shady superstar who can electrify the low-light areas of a summer garden like no other. Shield her from the hot sun, make her bed the way she likes it, give her a few good pinches now and then, and you’re in for a bouquet of garden delights.
Tuberous begonias are exciting garden characters that come in a wide variety of heights, bloom sizes and brilliant colours. Their gorgeous, velvety flowers range from big blossoms up to six inches (15 cm) in diameter to small, multi-flowered versions. In between, there are varieties ranging from the camellia-like picotee (with petals edged in white) to ruffled double-flowered types, long-blooming non-stops and elegant pendant varieties, so popular in hanging baskets.
Best of all, shade-loving begonias offer more colour than you’ve any right to expect in dim or filtered light. Any gardener with areas where shade prevails should prevail upon begonias to lighten things up.
The Begonia’s Early Suitors
Begonia’s bear the name of amateur botanist Michel Bégon (1638-1710) who was the governor of the French Antilles from 1682-85, The honour was bestowed upon him by botanist Charles Plumier in thanks to the governor for recommending him to Louis IV as official plant collector in the French Caribbean. Although other types of begonia were documented earlier, it wasn’t until 1700 when it was entered into the definitive book for botanists – Linnaeus’ Species Plantarum.
The word adventure used in the same sentence as begonia may sound a little odd, but plant hunters of the time were a hardy and obsessive lot. Take Richard Pearce. He went on to climb the treacherous mountains of Peru and Bolivia in the 1860s, where he eventually found four new species. Unfortunately, for his efforts he came down with yellow fever and perished, but not before he had a plant named after him.
Since then, the genus has been found in regions all over the world with tropical and sub-tropical climates.
Looking Better, As Time Goes By
Today’s tuberous begonias have evolved substantially from the species Mr. Plumier and Mr. Pearce encountered. Beginning with the first hybrid introduced in London in 1870, hybridizers have worked long and patiently to refine wild begonias into the colourful, big-flowered garden plants we now enjoy. Botanically, today’s hybrids are commonly grouped together as begonia tuberhybrida or hybrid tuberous begonias. Three basic forms are normally found:
- standard upright, about 10 to 12 inches (25 to 35 cm) tall;
- multiflora, shorter but with more flowers, about eight to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) tall;
- pendant or hanging type.
The main species are begonia bertinii (pendulous flower), begonia crispa (single flower), begonia double, begonia pendulous, begonia fimbriata (ruffled and double flower), begonia marmorata (double flower) and begonia multiflora maxima (small flowering).
Begonia leaves are large and dark green. The velvety flowers range from fiery reds and oranges to whites, saturated yellows and even deep pinks, rose, apricot, champagne and bi-colours. Picotee forms feature colourful petals outlined in white.
Begonia Basics
Tuberous begonias are excellent choices for containers, garden beds and borders and landscape plantings. Their flowering period runs from mid-summer to frost. They average in height from 10 to 12 inches (25 to 35 cm). When planting in a garden bed, space plants six inches (15 cm) apart. Plant tubers close to the surface and cover with just a thin layer of soil. They grow best in light shade; direct sunlight can burn flowers and leaves (except in very hot areas, morning sun to 50 percent shade is preferable).
The tubers are tender in USDA zones 3 to 8. In these zones, plant begonias in the spring after the last threat of frost. To enjoy the longest flowering period, start begonias indoors in pots approximately six weeks prior to moving them outdoors. Begonias will not over-winter outdoors in most parts of the country. Many gardeners treat begonias as annuals. Others “lift them” before frost to save their favourite plants for indoor storage over winter and replanting outdoors the following spring. (The tubers should be stored in a dry, cool area over winter.)
So what’s so temperamental about begonias? Just a few things and all fairly easily dealt with. As mentioned, they don’t like frost, so they must be planted when this threat has passed. They like cool, partially shaded locations as intense sun or heat will burn the leaves and flowers. Amazingly, tuberous begonias can still produce a fair number of flowers in locations with very deep shade. They are very particular about the soil, preferring moisture-retentive but not soggy soil with a high humus content.
In another way, however, begonias can be tough. Take pinching. They not only don’t mind being pinched back, they love it. Pinching back side-stems and buds will promote a more vigorous plant with fewer but bigger flowers.
Those searching for something luscious to grow in the shade will likely find that begonias bring a rich reward for a little loving care.