Begoniaceae FamilyBy Brenda Lines

Introduction

Many people recognize the distinctive asymmetrical leaves, fleshy jointed stems and showy flowers of most cultivated begonias. However, looks can be deceiving, since some species do not exhibit any of these features and can only be identified as begonias by a combination of subtle botanical features. These include: alternate stipulate leaves, separate male and female flowers, petal-like sepals, centripetal stamen development, inferior ovaries, and other characteristics. Fascinating, but far too much information……. Let’s look at some basics and which beautiful species grow best in Florida. And even better yet…… how to propagate them!

Fun Facts

• Two genera: Begonia with 1400 species and Hillebrandia in Hawai with one species

• 10,000 cultivated species• Grown for beautiful foliage and/or flowers• None are native• One can be invasive (wax begonia) • Usually grown in shade or part shade• Love South Florida

Begonia Classifications

• Cane-Like Begonias• Rhizomatous Begonias• Rex Begonias (Only in pots)• Shrub-Like Begonias• Semperflorens Begonias (Wax begonias, annual)• Thick-Stem Begonias• Trailing-Scandent Begonias• Tuberous Begonias (Not for Florida)

FASCINATING FACT

POLLINATION:•Separate male and female flowers are on the same begonia plant•Only male flowers have pollen and open first•Female flowers make no pollen•BAIT AND SWITCH: Female flower’s stigma look like the male flower’s pollen sac!•Insects are tricked into transferring pollen from the male flowers to the female!

BEGONIA PROPAGATION*Use well drained potting soil

•CUTTINGS: (Cane begonias)•Take five inch end cuttings•Remove all lower leaves except 2 or 3•Place one inch into soil•Keep moist in shade•RHIZOMES (Root cuttings): (For rhizomatous and thick stem)•Cut about two inch rhizome•Place on top of soil (root side down)•Cover bottom half of rhizome with soil•Keep moist in shade•LEAF : (For rhizomatous , trailing-scandent, shrub like)•Remove leaf with about two inch petiole (leaf stem)•Place leaf stem about one inch into soil•Keep moist in shade

NEED MORE INFO? *Contact American Begonia Society at www.begonias.org *Take Plant Propagation Class at PBCC!*TRY IT! IT’S FUN AND REWARDING!

BEGONIAS FOR FLORIDA*Plant them in the ground!

*Add winter and spring color!

Mound-forming begonias grown for beautiful foliage and flowers:•Begonia odorata alba (white , fragrant flowers)•Begonia heracleifolia (pink flowers)•Begonia nelumbilifolia (white flowers)•Begonia popenoei (white flowers)•Begonia ‘Washington State’ (red flecks of color on light green leaves)•Begonia ‘Plum Gorgeous’ (dark plum leaves)•Begonia ‘Caribbean King’ (easy, beautiful dark leaves)

Groundcover creepers or climbers or hanging baskets:•Begonia ‘Manaus’ (white flowers, ground cover)•Begonia convolvulacea (shiny green leaves, white flowers, climbs)•Begonia ‘Withiacoochee’ (white flowers, patterned leaves, groundcover or baskets)

Cane begonia for the landscape:•Begonia coccinea (angel-wing begonia, pink flowers)

Male and female flowers

Female flowers

Male flowers

Cane begonia

Begonia odorata alba

Rhizomatous

Begonia coccinea

Shrub-like begoniaSmall Rhizomatous

Beautiful Begonias