Begonia
Begonia
Also called wax begonia
Begonia blooms from May through October.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Begonia
Plant it in part shade. It prefers moderate water. Expect it to reach about 12 in tall and 12 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Begonia
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Begonia into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from May to October.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar.
Comes in 8 varieties across 3 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Begonia
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The calcium oxalates sit mainly in the roots and tubers, causing mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting, and kidney failure in grazing horses. per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
One lever fixes the two worst begonia problems: the overwatering and poor drainage that rot roots and stems also feed gray mold. Water at the base into fast-draining soil. per Penn State and Minnesota
Sun depends on leaf color
Bronze-leaved wax types take full sun; green-leaved ones scorch and want morning sun with afternoon shade. In hot-summer gardens lean shadier; in cool climates more sun is fine. per Clemson and NC State
Bees, not butterflies
Despite the 'attracts butterflies' label, a replicated trial saw too few butterfly visits to score. Begonias mainly draw bees, wasps and hoverflies, and value varies threefold by cultivar. per NC State and Entomological Society
Frost-tender annual
Frost kills wax and tuberous begonias, so they are grown as warm-season annuals almost everywhere. Plant out only after the last frost, once the soil warms; cold soil stunts them. per Illinois
Deer and rabbit resistant
Deer and rabbits seldom browse begonias, so they suit gardens with grazing pressure. As with any 'deer resistant' plant, very hungry animals may still sample them. per NC State and Clemson
Blooms to frost, self-cleaning
Wax begonias flower nonstop from late spring to frost with no deadheading; the spent blooms drop on their own. That easy, continuous color is the main reason to plant them. per NC State
What pairs well with Begonia
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Azalea
Shares part shade and moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Hellebore
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; echoes the pink.
Camellia
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in midwinter, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; stands well above at 6.6 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
Bergenia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; echoes the pink.
Northern Sea Oats
Shares part shade and moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Gardenia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate to high water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it; a soft color beside the pink.
Windflower
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border.
Christmas Fern
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
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