Begonias are plants that generally do not grow very tall. They are very popular on balconies, where they are usually planted in flower boxes if they are small, or in pots. They produce brightly colored flowers.which, although small in size, attract a lot of attention.
But it is also possible to grow them as houseplants. In fact, it is something that we will have no choice but to do if frost is recorded in our region, since its resistance to cold is practically nil. SO We are going to see what types of begonias we can grow and what they look like.
The genus Begonia comprises some 1,500 different species, only a few of which are in trade. As is natural, it is in their places of origin that we can find more variety, whereas in a country like Spain we get a dozen. It is still interesting to know them in order to have a larger collection, and/or to decorate the house with exotic plants:
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angel wing begonia
Image – Wikimedia/Khalid Mahmood
The begonia known as angel’s wing is a hybrid between Begonia aconitifolia And Begonia coccinea, made in 1926, in California, by Eva Kenworthy Grey. Its scientific name is Begonia cv Angel Wing. It is a perennial plant that reaches 50 centimeters in height., and which produces green leaves. Its flowers are red and appear in spring.
Begonia boliviensis
Image – Flickr/enbodenumer
The Bolivian begonia is a plant that grows in Bolivia and Argentina. Reaches a height of 30 to 50 centimeters, and the leaves are lanceolate, green, and serrate-margined. The flowers are a striking red color, a detail that has fascinated gardeners from the first moment. In fact, it was already exhibited in 1867, at the Salon International de l’Horticulture in Paris; and not only that, but it is one of the ancestors of the hybrid Begonia x tuberhybrida (tuberous begonia), which we will see later.
Begonia coccinea
Image – Wikimedia/Yercaud-elango
Image – Wikimedia/Raffi Kojian
There Begonia coccinea It is a plant native to Brazil, known as angel wing begonia; although, as we saw earlier, she is one of the parents of the Begonia cv Angel Wing. It grows between 50 centimeters and one meter in height., and has dark green leaves, sometimes with white spots. Its flowers are coral red.
begonia cucullata
Image – Flickr/Digital Repository: Flora from the Middle of the World, UETMM
Image – 阿橋 Wikimedia/HQ
There begonia cucullataknown as mother-of-pearl or agricultural flower, is a perennial plant native to South America, specifically Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. It reaches an approximate height of 50 centimeters, and has oval-shaped green leaves. Its flowers are pink, white or red.
Begonia Elatior (Begonia x hiemalis)
Image – Flickr/Mauricio Mercadante
The Begonia elatior, is a hybrid of species originating from Brazil. It has large green leaves and its flowers are usually white, although they can be pink, orange or yellow. It reaches a height of 20 to 30 centimeters..
Begonia gracilis
Image – Wikimedia/Gsachar
There Begonia gracilis It is a medium sized plant that reaches between 25 and 50 centimeters in height. It is native to Mexico and features green leaves with wavy margins. Its flowers are pink.
begonia maculata
Image – Wikimedia/GCornelis
There begonia maculataformerly called coral begoniais an endemic plant of Brazil. It measures between 40 and 60 centimeters high., and develops dark green leaves with white dots on the upper side and red on the underside. The flowers are white or pink.
Begonia nelumbiifolia
Image – Wikimedia/David J. Stang
There Begonia nelumbiifolia It is a plant known as xocoyule. He is originally from Mexico, and reaches a height of between 1 and 1.5 meters in height. Its leaves are rounded, ending in a sharp point and green. The flowers are mostly white or pink.
pavonina begonia
Image – Flickr/Clivid
Image – Flickr/Clivid
There pavonina begoniaor blue plant, is an herb that grows in the jungles of Malaysia. It reaches an approximate height of 40 centimeters, and develops bluish-green leaves, although depending on their exposure to light, they appear more greenish or more bluish. Also, if you want it to look blue, you’ll need to put it somewhere where it receives little light.
begonia rex
There begonia rexor painted-leaved begonia, is a perennial plant native to Asia that reaches a height of 40 centimeters. Its leaves are generally grayish green and white, but they can be several different colors depending on the specimen: there are certain cultivars that have red leaves, others green, others multicolored. The flowers are pink.
Begonia x semperflorens
There Begonia x semperflorens It is a hybrid of other varieties of begonias native to Brazil. Depending on the climate, it can be annual or perennial, and It reaches a height of between 15 and 30 centimeters in height. Its leaves are green or reddish and waxy, which is why it is known as wax begonia. The flowers are small, red in color.
tuberous begonia
Image – Wikimedia/BotBln
The tuberous begonia, whose scientific name is Begonia x tuberhybridais a hybrid of which several cultivars have been produced. Reaches a height of about 30 centimetersand develop large red or orange flowers.
What types of begonias did you like the most?