egonias 



by Frank Qreen 



WAX BEGONIAS— B. semper/Iorens cultivars, have 

 experienced a tremendous resurgence in popularity 

 in the past two decades. They have moved off the 

 windowsill and into prominent display as bedding 

 plants across the country. The greatest contributor 

 to this increased interest is Senary in Germany, 

 who has introduced series after series of new semps. 

 These include the Gin, Whisky, and Vodka series. 



Other begonias which have recently gained favor 

 are the Non-Stop and the Clips hybrids. These are 

 so much easier than the tuberybrida group, and 

 more suitable as pot plants, that they have consider- 

 ably outdistanced the tuberhybrida group with 

 northeastern growers. 



But the real story with begonias is to be found 

 with those essentially overlooked by commercial 

 growers. Not grown more widely, perhaps, because 

 the perception is that begonias are difficult, history 

 says otherwise. Who does not remember the pond 

 lily or beefsteak begonias (the same plant)? Cor- 

 rectly called B. 'Er-^\ktop}\-j^' (hybridized in 1845), 

 this plant was in every barber shop, diner and store- 

 front around the country seventy years and more 

 ago. It was also on almost every windowsill. Some- 

 times you could marvel as well at the spiralled form, 

 B. Erythrophylla var Helix — or the magnificently 

 crested B. Erythrophylla var Bunchii — the "lettuce 

 leaf begonia" — both as easy as the original. A com- 

 panion might well be the 1892 hybrid, B. Corallina 

 de Lucema — the "angel wing" with its spectacular 

 pendant trusses of scarlet bloom. Also B. Thurstonii 

 with its lacquered bronzy-green leaves, sometimes 

 called the "barber shop begonia" — around since 

 1887. 



These begonias were so widely grown because 

 they were tough — they withstood neglect, they were 

 forgiving. If they dried out, they revived when wa- 

 tered again. They tolerated a wide range of condi- 

 tions — heat, cold, dryness, humidity — and most of 

 the time remained presentable — sometimes really 

 stunning. 



The last generation has seen all of these 

 varieties Ignored by the commercial grower, even 

 though all but B. Lucema (its correct name) can be 



grown in low-light offices, living rooms, etc. 



Myriad other varieties should be examined by 

 commercial growers. B. Convolvulacea, a bright 

 green trailer discovered in 1861, makes a lovely 

 hanging basket, especially for areas which do not 

 get enough sun for more popular blooming hangers. 

 But B. Convolvulacea makes its own contribution in 

 early spring with a haze of tiny white blooms. B. 

 Orococo with its larger, textured leaves strongly 

 tinged with mahogany is most impressive in a hang- 

 ing basket, and an additional benefit is the florlfer- 

 ousness — broad, lacy umbels of creamy white bloom. 

 Most of the cane-like begonias make very showy 

 plants which afford more bloom in semi-shade than 

 many more common outside plants. Some of those 

 worth growing are 'Sophie Cecile', 'Superba-Kenzii', 

 'Lenore Olivier', 'Di-Erna', 'Tom Ment' — and dozens 

 of others. 



Shrub-like begonias which can add drama outside 

 are B. Thurstonii (mentioned earlier). Morning sun, 

 light shade, and even fairly heavy shade — they all 

 suit it. Blooms best in light shade. B. compta is a 

 species shrub-like begonia, which does not offer 

 much in the way of bloom, but is easily propagated 

 and nearly idiot-proof. Its slate green leaves with 

 light grey-green venal markings make it a satlsfy- 

 ingly easy plant in the border. B. scharffii, a Brazil- 

 ian native discovered in 1888, is stunning when 

 well-grown. Coppery-green foliage is an excellent 

 foil for the heavy blooms, Male flowers are borne in 

 bunches the size of a large orange. Creamy-white 

 "clam shells" (male flowers seldom open fully) 

 densely clothed in hairs, these blooms are truly eye- 

 catchers. Female flowers are equally showy. This be- 

 gonia can make a specimen plant as much as four 

 feet across and nearly as tall. Planted in the garden 

 from 6" pots, it makes a good show during the sum- 

 mer, and can be brought in to grace a bright room 

 through the winter. 



B. albo picta var rosea (hort) makes a spectacular 

 hanging basket. One grower produces this for Moth- 

 ers' Day sale in 8" and 10" baskets, so heavily cov- 

 ered with clusters of hot pink bloom that you can 

 hardly see the pot — and not much of the foliage. 



August/September 1992 13 



