Monroe County Master Gardener Association

I chose these interesting foliage begonias to feature this week. Hope you enjoy the shapes, textures and colors offered and use them as an addition to your garden.

We are all familiar with the flowering annual begonia that we purchase from the garden center. But as a foliage plant, I want to speak on the ones where the foliage is the star. Let’s begin with the Rex Begonia (Begonia Rex-cultorum group). This variety can create a conversation by just one look.

During presentations on gardening, I use some of the photos of the Rex variety. These always seem to perk up the crowd…many asking “What’s that plant?” Don’t expect much of a bloom, it’s mainly grown for its fabulous foliage. Many carry great textural characteristics. With foliage like this, who needs a bloom?

This plant prefers shade and a somewhat damp soil. Although due to the fleshy thick stems, it often will hold onto water. This allows a few days between watering. Most of my plantings are in vertical gardens or containers
The first photo is a Proven Winner. The name is Pegasus. You can find this in almost all the home centers. I like the contrast on the red underneath to add a bit more color. It can stand partial shade as well.

Pegasus

The red one below is Begonia (T Rex Variety) Ruby Slippers. If you need red in the garden, this is a great pick. Just below it, in the same photo, is Begonia ‘Shadow King Cherry Mint’. These two pairs very nicely with the blue fescue and Japanese blood grass. The blues also tie in with the color of the pots. I purchase a few of these every year. ‘Shadow King Cherry Mint” has a great serrated edge with a slight border of the red to it.

Here you see it in one of my vertical gardens just after I have planted it. It’s surely one of my very favorite. Again, grass was used here as well for contrast foliage.

Do you want a conversation piece? Then purchase this Begonia ‘Escargot’. It’s not easy to find in the garden center, however they are available online. I have seen it during the winter months in the house plant section. The contrasting color and unusual shape always starts a conversation.

Recently I found the begonia called ‘U614’. It was a search online that finally lead me to a supplier here in the states. It’s from Bhutan, NE India and Nepal. Another one with a great serrated foliage. The veins have a hint of deep red (which don’t show up so well in the photo). I purchase two of them. They top out at about 20”. I’ll be planting these in May outside. I think they will be a great addition. The hope is that due to their cost I can overwinter them indoors.<a

Popping into view, in the pot below, is another favorite. It’s a Rex variety called Nebulosa. This is placed in a vertical garden on a wall of my garage. This one offers color, lots of texture and “freckles” of white on the outer rim.

Next is one called ‘Pink Minx’. I enjoy adding some pink flowers along with it. Love the silver gray foliage. It pairs nicely with Shadow King Cherry Mint as well. You can see it in the background.

These favorites are repeatedly used in my container plantings. This photo shows the repetition in just one small area of my garden.
Begonias can be propagated by a cutting into a glass of water in a bright window, or by leaf cuttings into a light medium.
Most used in my garden are Rex varieties. They generally are purchased locally. While doing this article I came across a great rust color one. I ordered it online from a nursery just outside of Canton, Ohio. The name of the nursery is My Green Obsession They should arrive any day. But for now I will have to give you a link to see a photo. The name is “Autumn Embers”. This one will make a great addition to containers with coleus, crotons and canna Tropicana verities. https://www.google.com/search?q=begonia+autumn+embers&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjT7bzFjbLaAhXJ3YMKHf8sBB8QsAR6BAgAEDc&biw=942&bih=921.
Using my photos, it limits the varieties that I can show you. However I encourage you to go onto your web server and click on this link:
https://www.google.com/search?q=begonia+foliage+plants&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYlJ26v6DaAhVL11MKHcMuAf8Q_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=949.
Or if you enjoy Pinterest, do a search for Rex Begonia. Enjoy the numerous photos that will come up with the search.

Certainly these will become a staple in the garden. The offerings of color, texture and shape will enhance any container, or bed.