Lovely Leaves

Last Saturday I attended a Begonia Show & Sale put on by the local chapter of the American Begonia Society. 



I'd intended to arrive near the 9am starting time but didn't manage to get there until nearly 11:30am, by which time the tables were nearly cleared of sale items so I focused on the show specimens.  Here are some of my favorites:

Begonia 'Andrea'

Both of these were purchased by the same exhibitor as Begonia 'Celia'.  They were hybridized by different growers.

Begonia 'Cleopatra'

Begonia 'Joe Hayden'

Begonia 'Little Brother Montgomery'

Begonia masoniana

Begonia medora

Begonia moysii

Begonia semperflorens 'Charm'

I couldn't find the label for this one but I think it could be Begonia 'Summerwings'

Begonia 'White Ice'

Begonia yananoli

I've always loved Begonias, especially the Rex Begonias grown primarily for their foliage.  I grew them in the ground in my former shady garden but, even pampered in pots, I've had a harder time keeping them alive in my current garden.  My lath (shade) house has helped but I have to be careful in managing their water as I seem to vacillate wildly between under- and over-watering them.

Despite the sparse supply of sale items when I arrived, I picked up 2 new plants in 4-inch pots.

I've replanted both in slightly larger pots than the plastic ones they came in.  The one on the left is 'Amberley' and the one on the right is 'Bundy Plum'.

These augmented my existing small collection.

From left to right are: 'Little Darling', a noID specimen, and 'Palomar Prince'.  I have 2 others that were camera shy as they're not currently looking their best.

Do you grow begonias?  Do you have any favorites or, more important, any tips for keeping them healthy?


All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party