How to Care for Begonias

Begonias are a diverse bunch, so chances are good that you’ll find one that’s suited for your home and style. Here a few of the classics to keep an eye out for:

• Wax begonias (Begonia semperflorens) have waxy leaves and lots of flowers. Leaves can be green, bronze or red. Flowers are single or double in shades of red, pink, orange and white. 
• Angel wing begonias have long, cane-like stems and leaves are shaped like the wings of an angel. Both standard and dwarf forms exist and many are variegated. Flowers usually grow in large clusters.
• The beef steak begonia is an example of a rhizomatous begonia. It has a heavy succulent stem. The flower stalks have lots of small flowers above the foliage. The leaves come in many colors and shapes.
• Tuberous-rooted begonias produce large showy flowers on small upright or cascading plants. 
• The rex begonia’s main feature is its foliage with bright and unusual color patterns. The flowers usually grow on small stems and are hidden between the leaves. Some rex varieties are bred to tolerate lower humidity and are even more spectacular in color. Favorite rex begonia varieties to look for are ‘Fireworks’, a plum and silver combination, and ‘River Nile’, with wavy, spiral leaves that are 6 inches across and chartreuse in color with ruby markings. In winter, it produces pink flowers.