Begonia (Begonia spp.)

Begonia Plant Features

A large family of easy-care annual flowers, begonias come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Probably the most popular member of the family is commonly called wax begonia. These little charmers grow 8 to 10 inches tall and bear pink, red, or white blooms atop either green or bronze foliage. Wax begonias are so adaptable they thrive in partial sun and shade and work just as well in the flower border as they do in pots, planters, and window boxes. They have almost no insect or disease problems and their blooms are prized by butterflies and hummingbirds.

Learn more: See our Shopper's Guide to Begonias to learn about different types and how to select the best ones for your yard.

Begonia Questions?
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Begonias prefer a rich, slightly moist soil. Although some will survive in full sun, most prefer a more shaded location that gets a little sunlight each day. To keep begonias in top form, feed every 10 days during the summer with a dilute solution of liquid fertilizer.

In the fall, most begonias can be brought indoors as a houseplant over the winter. Cut the plants back and place them in a bright window away from direct sunlight.

Note: Begonia is not intended for human or animal consumption.

Water

Medium water needs
Light

Outside: Shade
Colors

Orange

Pink

Red

White
Special Features

Attracts butterflies

Attracts hummingbirds

Colorful foliage

Super-easy to grow

Complement your Plant

Caladium

Create a festival of color by mixing the boldly patterned leaves of caladium with the bright, perky blooms of begonia.

Impatiens, New Guinea

New Guinea impatiens and begonias make great partners in the shaded border.

Dusty Miller

The gray leaves of Dusty Miller complement the waxy leaves and pink, red, or white flowers of Begonia.

Our favorite varieties

Big Rose with Green Leaf

Begonia Big 'Rose Green Leaf'

Large pink flowers and bright green leaves make Big 'Pink Green Leaf’ begonia a must-have plant in your flower border or containers. It lives up to its name, too, growing up to 36 inches tall. This easy-care variety thrives in sun or shade.

Camouflage

Begonia 'Camouflage'

Indoors or out, ‘Camouflage’ rhizomatous begonia won’t hide its fantastic flowers or foliage. It has beautiful mottled green and russet leaves that are topped with spikes of flowers in the summer. Outdoors, ‘Camouflage’ needs a shady spot to thrive.

Dragon Wing Red

Begonia 'Dragon Wing Red'

Heat and drought tolerant, ‘Dragon Wing Red’ begonia is an easy-care beauty that looks terrific from spring through fall. It’s almost never out of bloom, producing an endless supply of red, pendulous blooms. ‘Dragon Wing’ grows 18 inches tall and thrives in shade or partial shade.

Forever Autumn

Begonia ‘Forever Autumn’

Here’s a plant that works just as well indoors as it does out. ‘Forever Autumn’ rhizomatous begonia produces mottled and splashed, lime-green-and-russet leaves and spikes of pale pink flowers. It’s a shade dweller that grows 8 to 15 inches tall.

Hairy Thing

Begonia 'Hairy Thing'

Small white hairs on the edge of its deep, purple-black foliage give ‘Hairy Thing’ begonia its name. It grows 8-15 inches tall and requires a shady spot outdoors or a bright spot indoors as a houseplant. Try it in a hanging basket in a sheltered spot on your porch or patio.

Silky Lustre

Begonia 'Silky Lustre'

Dark burgundy-red foliage with an attractive sheen makes ‘Silky Lustre’ rhizomatous begonia a standout in a pot or planter. Grow this shade-loving variety in containers or landscapes outdoors. Or enjoy it as a no-fuss houseplant indoors! It grows 8-15 inches tall.

Solenia Velvet Red

Begonia 'Solenia Velvet Red'

The pretty carnation-like flowers of ‘Solenia Velvet Red’ Rieger begonia will add a tropical flair to hanging baskets and window boxes. The plants have thick, fleshy green leaves and stems that make the plants interesting even when it’s not blooming. It grows 10-12 inches tall and thrives in sun or partial shade.

Solenia Dusty Rose

Begonia 'Solenia Dusty Rose'

Pretty pink flowers and fleshy green stems and foliage combine to make ‘Solenia Dusty Rose’ a standout Reiger begonia for baskets and window boxes. Its fully double flowers can measure up to 3 inches in diameter. It grows 10-12 inches tall and grows in sun or partial shade.

Big Rose with Bronze Leaf

Begonia 'Big Rose Bronze Leaf'

Easy to grow in sun or shade, this member of Big begonia family features pink flowers and bronzy-green foliage. It grows 36 inches tall and wide.

Big Red with Green Leaf

Begonia 'Big Red Green Leaf'

A showstopper in the garden, this is a no-fuss plant for shade and sun. It offers red flowers and bright green leaves and grows 36 inches tall and wide.

Big Red with Bronze Leaf

Begonia 'Big Red Bronze Leaf'

A flower for sun or shade, this member of the Big begonia family sports red flowers and bronzy-green leaves. Like its siblings, it grows 36 inches tall and wide.

Doublet Rose

Begonia 'Doublet Rose'

A top performer in our Trial Garden, Doublet Rose begonia shows off frilly, double rose-red flowers on a compact, mounding plant. It grows 12 inches tall or wide and thrives in sun or shade.

Doublet Pink

Begonia 'Doublet Pink'

Doublet Pink is a stunning variety that shows off tiny double, rose-like flowers on a mounding plant. It thrives in sun and shade and grows about 1 foot tall and wide.

Solenia Light Pink

Begonia 'Solenia Light Pink'

Showing off double pink, rose-like flowers, Solenia Light Pink begonia holds up to heat well, and thrives in full sun or part shade. It grows 12 inches tall and wide.

Ambassador White

Begonia 'Ambassador White'

Ambassador White thrives in sun or shade, resists disease, and flowers profusely all spring, summer, and fall. It grows 8 inches tall and wide.

Santa Cruz Sunset

Begonia 'Sun Cities Santa Cruz Sunset'

Santa Cruz Sunset begonia is a quick-growing Boliviensis-type that shows off orange-red flowers and narrow, purple-flushed leaves. It grows in sun or shade and gets 12 inches tall and wide.

Solenia Salmon Coral

Begonia 'Solenia Salmon Coral'

We have a soft spot for Solenia begonias because they hold up better to our heat than tuberous types, but still offer rich, opulent blooms. It grows 12 inches tall and wide and thrives in sun or part shade.

Solenia Dark Pink

Begonia 'Solenia Dark Pink'

Solenia Dark Pink begonia shows off attractive rose-like flowers all spring and into summer (all summer in mild areas). Ideal for hanging baskets, it's elegant everywhere it's displayed. Solenia Dark Pink grows 12 inches tall and wide and thrives in sun or part shade.

Glory Pink

Begonia 'Glory Pink'

This reiger-type begonia offers ruffled double pink flowers and tolerates full sun. It grows 18 inches tall and wide.