Begonias are such stalwarts of the summer garden that they are often overlooked, even sniffed at, by so-called fashionable gardeners. I’m not attracted by the enormous, dinner-plate sized blooms of most tuberous begonias, but find single flowered hybrids essential for colour in my partially-shaded garden. They do not demand day-long sun and look all the better for it, flowering better when the weather is warm, sulking slightly during cool spells. In my begonia armoury (or should that be ‘amoury’?) are Begonia ‘Million Kisses Devotion’, B. ‘Million Kisses Passion’ and B. ‘Firewings Orange’. But, after their flames have died down, I am always left in love with Begonia ‘Glowing Embers’. It’s a plant that positively smoulders its way through summer, in no need of re-ignition come autumn. The bronze, prettily veined foliage provides a strong backdrop for the simple tangerine flowers that rain down all summer like sparks from a welder’s gun.
Categories: Daily Flower Candy, Flowers, Plants
I like begonias although I haven’t had any in a couple of years. Maybe it will be time next summer. 🙂
I surprised myself this year by choosing a red begonia with dark leaves for one of my pots at home. I thought it would look nice next to my Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’ and I have to say, it does! I have always dismissed them before but I’m now a little bit of a secret fan as this one has been so trouble free and floriferous. Helen
They are so easy aren’t they? The snails don’t seem awfully bothered, and they can manage a spell or two of drought. Last year I removed the foliage when it died off and hid the tubers, still in the pots, in the shed with no special treatment. They started back into growth with no fuss in spring so I shall try the same approach again this winter. Dan