Begonias are plants that generally do not grow very large. They are very loved on balconies, where they are usually planted in planters if they are small, or in pots. They produce flowers of very cheerful colorswhich, although they have a small size, attract a lot of attention.
But it is also possible to grow them as indoor plants. In fact, this is something that we will have no choice but to do if there are frosts in our area, since its resistance to cold is practically nil. So let’s see what types of begonias we can grow and what they are like.
The gender of Begonia it comprises some 1500 different species, of which only a few are traded. Naturally, in their places of origin is where we can find more variety, while in a country like Spain we get a dozen. Even so, it is interesting to know them in order to have a wider collection, and / or to decorate the house with exotic plants:
Angel wing begonia
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Khalid Mahmood
The begonia known as angel wing is a hybrid between Begonia aconitifolia y coccinea begoniamade in 1926, in California, by Eva Kenworthy Gray. Its scientific name is Begonia cv Angel Wing. It is a perennial plant that grows 50 centimeters talland that produces green leaves. Its flowers are red and sprout in spring.
begonia boliviensis
Image – Flickr / enbodenumer
La Bolivian begonia It is a plant that grows in Bolivia and Argentina. Reaches a height of 30 to 50 centimetersand the leaves are lanceolate, green, and with a serrated margin. The flowers are a striking red color, a detail that gardeners were fascinated by from the first moment. In fact, it was exhibited as early as 1867, at the International Horticulture Show in Paris; and not only that, but she is one of the progenitors of the hybrid Begonia x tuber hybrida (tuberous begonia), which we will see later.
coccinea begonia
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Image – Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
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Image – Wikimedia Commons / Raffi Kojian
The coccinea begonia It is a plant native to Brazil, known as angel wings begonia; although as we have seen before, she is one of the progenitors of the Begonia cv Angel Wing. It grows between 50 centimeters and one meter in heightand has dark green leaves, sometimes with white spots. Its flowers are coral red.
cucullate begonia
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Image – Flickr / Digital Repository: Flora from the Middle of the World, UETMM
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Image – Wikimedia / Aqiao HQ
The cucullate begoniaknown as nacre flower or agrial, is a perennial plant native to South America, specifically Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Reaches an approximate height of 50 centimetersand has ovate-shaped green leaves. Its flowers are pink, white or red.
Elatior Begonia (Begonia x winter)
Image – Flickr / Mauricio Mercadante
La begonia elatior, is a hybrid of species native to Brazil. It has large green leaves, and its flowers are usually white, although they can be pink, orange or yellow. Grows to a height of 20-30 centimeters.
Begonia gracilis
Image – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Begonia gracilis is a medium-sized plant, which reaches between 25 and 50 centimeters in height. It is native to Mexico, and has green leaves with wavy margins. Its flowers are pink.
spotted begonia
Image – Wikimedia / GCornelis
The spotted begoniabefore call coralline begoniais an endemic plant of Brazil. Grows between 40 and 60 centimeters in heightand develops dark green leaves with white dots on the upper side and red on the underside. The flowers are white or pink.
Begonia nelumbiifolia
Image – Wikimedia Commons / David J. Stang
The Begonia nelumbiifolia it is a plant known as xocoyule. It is native to Mexico, and reaches a height of between 1 to 1,5 meters high. Its leaves are rounded, ending in a sharp point, and green in color. The flowers on the other hand are white or pink.
Pavonine Begonia
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Image – Flickr / Clivid
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Image – Flickr / Clivid
The Pavonine Begoniaor blue plant, is an herb that grows in the jungles of Malaysia. Reaches an approximate height of 40 centimetersand develops bluish-green leaves, although depending on their exposure to light they will look more greenish or more bluish. What’s more, if you want it to look blue, you will have to put it in a place where it receives little light.
Begonia rex
The Begonia rexor painted leaf begonia, is a perennial plant native to Asia that reaches a height of 40 centimeters. Its leaves are generally greyish green and white, but they can be many different colors depending on the specimen: there are some cultivars that have them red, others green, others multicolored. The flowers are pink.
Begonia x semperflorens
The Begonia x semperflorens It is a hybrid of other varieties of begonias originating in Brazil. Depending on the climate, it can be annual or perennial, and reaches a height of between 15 and 30 centimeters in height. Its leaves are green or reddish, and waxy, which is why it is known as wax begonia. The flowers are small, red.
Tuberous begonia
Image – Wikimedia / BotBln
The tuberous begonia, whose scientific name is Begonia x tuber hybridais a hybrid from which several cultivars have been produced. Reaches a height of about 30 centimetersand develop large, red or orange flowers.
What types of begonias did you like the most?
