Big begonias for containers and borders Think that fibrous-rooted begonias are dinky little plants just for edging summer bedding displays? Think again, says plantsman Graham Rice. We always tend to think of fibrous-rooted begonias as small, bushy little plants for window boxes, small containers and edging. Big Leaf Begonias are great plants to use in the landscape and containers. Dragon Wing will not go well in sun, but the big leaf begonia will do well in sun very easy to grow. Give it some thought for your garden.
The most dependably colourful of summer bedding plants, their neat, waxy, bronze or green leaves coupled with red, pink or white flowers just keep coming from June to the frosts. But it was rare to see varieties taller than about 23cm (9in), and 15cm (6in) was more common. Now, all that has changed, and developments are heading in the other direction..
In recent years big and bold varieties reaching almost 3ft (90cm) tall have been developed. They make very impressive plants. These large fibrous-rooted begonias are valuable in two situations. As specimens in containers they are superb; in terracotta pots up to 45cm (18in) across they have real presence, with a nice balance of attractive glossy foliage and pretty flowers. They grow quickly, making bushy plants that branch repeatedly and produce showers of flowers until frosted in autumn. You can even bring them into the conservatory to flower into winter. They can also be grown in half barrels and in very large pots in sumptuous mixed plantings with cannas, dahlias, colocasias, foliage helichrysums and tumbling calibrachoas, and their repeatedly-branching growth ensures that every space is filled with foliage and flowers.
In sunny and partially-shaded borders they are also valuable. In the middle ground their informal style allows them to blend well with perennials and other annuals. They fill space quickly and, being much larger than other begonias and many other summer annuals, relatively few plants are needed. Begonias are one of the more difficult annuals to raise from seed, so buying plugs or young plants is a more viable option. Plants of this type are now found in catalogues and garden centres, in increasing order of height:
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty, Iowa
The most dependably colourful of summer bedding plants, their neat, waxy, bronze or green leaves coupled with red, pink or white flowers just keep coming from June to the frosts. But it was rare to see varieties taller than about 23cm (9in), and 15cm (6in) was more common. Now, all that has changed, and developments are heading in the other direction..
In recent years big and bold varieties reaching almost 3ft (90cm) tall have been developed. They make very impressive plants. These large fibrous-rooted begonias are valuable in two situations. As specimens in containers they are superb; in terracotta pots up to 45cm (18in) across they have real presence, with a nice balance of attractive glossy foliage and pretty flowers. They grow quickly, making bushy plants that branch repeatedly and produce showers of flowers until frosted in autumn. You can even bring them into the conservatory to flower into winter. They can also be grown in half barrels and in very large pots in sumptuous mixed plantings with cannas, dahlias, colocasias, foliage helichrysums and tumbling calibrachoas, and their repeatedly-branching growth ensures that every space is filled with foliage and flowers.
In sunny and partially-shaded borders they are also valuable. In the middle ground their informal style allows them to blend well with perennials and other annuals. They fill space quickly and, being much larger than other begonias and many other summer annuals, relatively few plants are needed. Begonias are one of the more difficult annuals to raise from seed, so buying plugs or young plants is a more viable option. Plants of this type are now found in catalogues and garden centres, in increasing order of height:
- Dragon Wing Series is spreading in growth and has green leaves and red or pink flowers. 30-40cm (12-14in).
- Baby Wing Series is upright and comes in two green-leaved colours, pink and white, plus a bronze-leaved white. 35-45cm (14-18in).
- Big Series is upright with two bronze-leaved colours, red and pink, and a green-leaved red. 50-60cm (20-24in).
- Whopper Series, the largest, is upright and comes in both green and bronze-leaved forms, with red or pink flowers. 75-85cm (30-34in).
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty, Iowa
