(Hardy Begonia)

Hardy begonia is tuberous begonia that bears elegant, pendulous clusters of fragrant pink (or rarely all white) flowers above dusky green leaves with vibrant reddish bronze undersides. This subtropical species is the only begonia known to survive in regions with prolonged sub-freezing winter temperatures. It is native to southeastern China, where it grows in forested river valleys, along montane slopes and moist cliff sides, and has been cultivated there since the 15th century. The flower stems are...

Hardy begonia is tuberous begonia that bears elegant, pendulous clusters of fragrant pink (or rarely all white) flowers above dusky green leaves with vibrant reddish bronze undersides. This subtropical species is the only begonia known to survive in regions with prolonged sub-freezing winter temperatures. It is native to southeastern China, where it grows in forested river valleys, along montane slopes and moist cliff sides, and has been cultivated there since the 15th century. The flower stems are...

(Hardy Begonia)

A spreading tuberous begonia, hardy begonia bears elegant, pendulous clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers above olive or mid-green leaves with pinkish undersides. This form is known for its paler leaves and stems and used to be called Begonia grandis ssp. evansiana, a subspecies that is no longer botanically recognized.

Hardy begonia is a subtropical species that survives in regions with prolonged sub-freezing winter temperatures. It is native to southeastern China, where...

(Begonia)

An erect shrubby tropical plant, Begonia involucrata has green leaves covered in soft white hairs and having irregular, jagged lobes. A tender herbaceous perennial, it is native to shaded slopes in the mid-elevations of Central America, from Mexico to Panama. The mid-green leaves have white hairs on them, and the leaf undersides are paler green. They are oval and oblong and irregularly shaped, with two or three pointed lobes and leaf veins that are depressed. In late winter small white flowers...

(Palm-leaved Begonia)

Palm-leaved begonia, a robust Brazilian native, is a tall, shrub-like tender tropical perennial with breathtaking palmate leaves. Each hand-like leaf - made up of 11-20 smaller leaflets that are fleshy and sometimes rippled - is often described as cannibis-like. The leaf stems are a contrasting pink to pink-orange. In spring, long floral stems arise and display creamy white clusters of flowers that are fragrant. Begonia flowers are either male or female, with male blossoms opening first.

Palm-leaved...

(Spotted Begonia)

The spotted or trout begonia is an upright cane-type with large, dark green leaves that look like bat wings with pronounced silver dots. This Brazilian native is a tender tropical perennial with green stems that resemble the culms of bamboo. The white flowers are quite showy, appearing from late winter into the spring, arising from the canes among the leaves. The leaves are shaped like a simple bat wing, or angel's wing, and are succulent, waxy, glossy and dark green. Silvery white dots speckle...

(Spotted Begonia, Wight's Spotted Begonia)

Wright's spotted begonia is an upright cane-type with large, dark green leaves that look like bat wings with pronounced silver dots. This Brazilian native is a tender tropical perennial with green stems that resemble the culms of bamboo. The white flowers are quite showy, appearing from late winter into the spring, arising from the canes among the leaves. The leaves are shaped like a simple bat wing, or angel's wing, and are succulent, waxy, glossy and dark green. Silvery white dots speckle the...

(Iron Cross Begonia)

The terrific evergreen foliage of the iron cross begonia can’t be beat. This rhizomatous tender perennial is native to extreme southern China near the border of Vietnam. Its large, rigid, roughly textured leaves are apple-green with single dark brown marks that resemble a German iron cross. In late spring, dainty white flowers are produced atop maroon stems above the mass of leaves.

Iron cross begonia needs a bright light but will not withstand direct sunlight. It prefers warm humid environments...

(Begonia)

Adored for beautiful blooms and wildly colorful foliage, Begonia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. There are over 1,500 species and more than 10,000 cultivars and hybrids. They are found all over the world but most originate from sub-tropical and tropical regions.

The plants come in many different forms. They are fleshy, herbaceous and may be annual or perennial. In habit, they can be shrubby, climbing, or epiphytic (tree-dwelling). The leaves are simple or compound...

(Begonia)

Tall, thick, upright and unbranching stems with attractive, glossy dark green and purple leaves makes Begonia multinervia a lovely but large tropical plant for the warm garden or house. Considered a tender perennial, this native of lower Central America becomes a tall clump as new stems arise only from the root mass, always without branches. The thick, smooth oval leaves are slightly toothed on the edges, glossy bright green above, and purplish underneath. The leaf stem petioles are lightly...