Bolivian begonia

Sun

Partial shade or bright filtered light; morning sun is suitable, but protect it from strong afternoon sun in hot climates.

Water

Keep evenly moist during active growth, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings. Keep dormant tubers nearly dry.

Soil

Humus-rich, freely draining soil or container compost; avoid heavy soil that stays wet.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Summer into autumn, until frost; slender, pendulous orange-red flowers. Cultivars and hybrids sold under this name offer other colours.

Foliage

Narrow, pointed green leaves with toothed edges and an asymmetrical base, carried on fleshy, arching stems.

Growth

Fast during the growing season.

Care needed

Medium

• Deer resistant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant outside only after frost risk has passed and nights have warmed.
• Use containers with drainage holes and shelter hanging baskets from strong wind.
• Water the compost rather than the foliage, and empty standing water from saucers.
• Feed container plants every two to three weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser at the label rate during active growth.
• Where winters are cold or wet, lift tubers as growth dies back and store them dry, cool and frost-free.

Pruning. Pinch young shoot tips in spring if plants need more branching, and remove damaged stems during growth. Let foliage yellow naturally before cutting dead stems back for winter storage.

Early spring

Start stored tubers in fresh, free-draining compost under frost-free cover; water sparingly until shoots develop.

Late spring

Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions, then plant out after frost risk has passed.

Summer

Check baskets frequently for drying and feed regularly while plants are growing strongly.

Late summer

Remove damaged growth and check leaf undersides for pests.

Autumn

Reduce watering as foliage yellows; move plants under cover before frost in cold regions.

Winter

Check stored tubers occasionally and discard any that have become soft or rotten; keep sound tubers dry and frost-free.

• Use in hanging baskets where the arching stems and hanging flowers can be seen from below.
• Plant along the edge of raised containers to soften their sides with cascading growth.
• Combine with ferns and small hostas in sheltered, partly shaded courtyards for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Group pots beside a shaded entrance or seating area for summer and autumn colour.

Garden styles it suits: Modern courtyard, Cottage garden, Tropical, Victorian, Small-space and Romantic rose garden.

Plant it with: Ferns, Hostas, Fuchsias, Impatiens, Coleus and Wishbone flower.

Wildlife: The flowers may attract hummingbirds where these occur in the Americas, but this is not a major wildlife-supporting plant.

• Tuber or root rot: prevent waterlogging, use freely draining compost and reduce watering sharply during dormancy; discard rotten tubers.
• Powdery mildew: improve air circulation, avoid crowding and remove badly affected leaves.
• Aphids and whiteflies: inspect young shoots and leaf undersides; treat infestations with insecticidal soap labelled for begonias, testing a small area first.
• Leaf scorch and wilting: move plants out of hot afternoon sun and check compost moisture before adding more water.

Toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten, with the highest concentration of soluble oxalates in the tubers. Ingestion can cause salivation and vomiting; substantial ingestion may cause more serious illness. People should not eat the plant, as it can cause irritation and stomach upset. Seek veterinary or medical advice after significant ingestion.

• Tuberous garden begonia (Begonia × tuberhybrida)

  Usually has broader leaves and larger, more open or double flowers; Bolivian begonia has narrower leaves and slender, hanging flowers. Hybrids between these groups can blur the distinction.

• Fuchsia begonia (Begonia fuchsioides)

  Has a woody, shrubby framework and many smaller leaves, rather than the seasonal, fleshy shoots arising from a tuber.

Begonia honours Michel Bégon, a French administrator and patron of botany, while boliviensis refers to Bolivia.

Propagation. Take soft stem cuttings in spring or early summer and root them in a moist, airy medium under cover. Seed is another option, but seed from garden hybrids may not produce plants like the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Begonia boliviensis

Native range

Argentina Northwest and Bolivia.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.