Hardy Begonia (Begonia grandis) Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 1st Feb 2024
- Plant Characteristics: Showcases heart-shaped leaves and delicate pink flowers that bloom in late summer to fall. Provides a splash of color when most plants are winding down.
- Growing & Care: Prefers shade to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. It's cold-hardier than most begonias, but mulch in winter to provide extra protection.
- Tips for New Gardeners: While tolerant of a range of conditions, keeping soil consistently moist (not waterlogged) is important. Ideal for adding late-season interest in shaded gardens.
Clump forming Shade Plant that looks great when massed
This Begonia is often grown by gardeners as it is able to overwinter better than most other species of this plant genus.
Begonia grandis plant by Esin Üstün; photograph under creative commons license.
This is a great plant to grow in shaded areas, It carries delicate flowers of pink in the summer and early fall / autumn. It is the most hardy Begonia and looks great in a woodland garden or even in a container garden.
Video Tips on How to Grow Begonia grandis
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Plant Growing and Gardening Care Guide
- Scientific name: Begonia grandis (Syn. Begonia discolor; Begonia evansiana).
- Common Name: Hardy Begonia, Beefsteak Plant.
- Growing Zone in the USA (Hardiness in the UK): 6 to 7 (H2).
- Life Cycle / Plant Type: Perrenial.
Plant Details
- Plant Height: 18 to 24 Inches / 45 to 60 cm. Takes about five years to reach full height.
- Plant Spread: 18 to 24 Inches / 45 to 60 cm.
- Time of Bloom: Late summer.
- Flower Details: Pale pink or white. Clusters.
- Leaf Foliage: Olive green. Obliquely ovate.
Ideal Growing Conditions
- Best Light Conditions: Partial shade, copes with full shade.
- Suitable Soil Types: Loam, Sand, humus rich, neutral to acidic pH.
- Ideal Soil Soil Moisture: Well drained.
Caring Conditions
- Level of Maintenance: Medium.
- Propagation: Start tubers Spring at 18°C (64°F). Plant Hollow side up about 1 inch (2.5 cm apart). Pot out when leaves show. Creates small bulblets that allows it to self propagates. Can also self-seed.
- How to Prune: Deadhead.
- Pests: No major pests. Caterpillars, mealy bugs, thrips, and aphids.
- Diseases: None major. Powdery mildew.
Further Information
- Attracts: Some butterflies.
- Tolerant of: Shaded areas.
- Best used in: Shade Garden, Woodland, Cottage, Patio or containers.
- Miscellaneous: The most winter hardy of the Begonia's. Dead head to extend blooms. Native of southern China.
- Genus Detail: Begoniaceae Family Begonia.
- Closely related Species: Begonia semperflorens and Begonia tuberhybrida.
Gardening Resources and tips on growing Begonia grandis
1) DC Tropics. 2) Carolyn's Shade Gardens
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Begonia grandis. You may also enjoy the following growing guides on Lysimachia and Aralia elata plants.
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