Wax Begonia - Annual Flower For Your Garden © 2006

Wax Begonia

Begonia semperflorens
Family - Begoniaceae - Begonia

The Wax Begonia is a native of Brasil which was introduced into Great Britain in 1829. It is named after a seventeenth French Botanist M. Michel Begon. In its native environment in the tropics it is an herbaceous perennial. In temperate climates it is grown as a garden annual which can be grown as a houseplant in the winter.

It will grow up to eighteen inches tall, with some modern hybrids much smaller.The white, pink, or red flowers can be either single or doubled and are borne from summer until fall. Wax Begonia plants in a sunny window during the winter can be expected to bloom all winter.

Use in the garden as a bedding plant, in full or half sun. Wax Begonia is also useful in containers and rock gardens. The soil should be fairly good, as begonia does not tolerate hard, dry soil very well. It needs to be watered fairly often.

Propagation of wax begonia is by seed, division, or cuttings. Seed is very fine, developes very slowly so it needs to be planted in early to mid winter to allow time for sizeable plants to develope. Cuttings root easily in just water or potting medium. The plants may also be divided in late summer before frost, potted up and placed in a sunny window. Cuttings may be taken from these plants in late winter, potted up when rooted and planted outside after all danger of frost is past.

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