Dragon Wing begonia

Sun

Partial shade or bright filtered light; morning sun is usually suitable. Protect from strong afternoon sun in hot climates.

Water

Keep moderately moist, allowing the soil surface to begin drying between waterings. Avoid waterlogged soil and standing water in saucers.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; use a free-draining potting mix in containers.

Height

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Spread

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring or early summer until frost; loose, dangling clusters of red or pink flowers, depending on the selection. Flowering can continue longer in warm, frost-free conditions.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy green, pointed, asymmetrical leaves with a wing-like outline, carried on fleshy, arching stems.

Growth

Fast in warm weather

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

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

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

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

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

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 out after frost danger has passed and nights are consistently mild; gradually acclimatise indoor-grown plants first.
• Water at soil level when the surface begins to dry, and make sure containers drain freely.
• Feed container plants every two to four weeks during active growth with a balanced liquid fertiliser at the label rate.
• Leave room for the mature spread so air can move between plants; keep mulch away from the stems.
• To keep plants for another year, move them into a bright, frost-free room before cold weather and reduce watering as growth slows.

Pruning. Pinch young shoot tips if you want a bushier plant, although regular pruning is rarely necessary. Shorten leggy stems during active growth and remove damaged or rotting growth promptly; routine deadheading is unnecessary.

Early spring

Check overwintered plants for pests, trim weak growth and increase watering as new shoots develop.

Late spring

Acclimatise plants gradually and plant outdoors after frost danger has passed.

Early summer

Begin regular feeding for container plants and check that neighbouring plants are not crowding them.

Summer

Check containers frequently for drying and protect leaves from scorching afternoon sun.

Early autumn

Bring plants you want to keep into bright, frost-free shelter before cold nights.

Winter

Keep sheltered plants bright and warm, water sparingly without letting the root ball dry completely, and withhold feed unless they are actively growing.

• Use in large patio pots, allowing the arching stems and flower clusters to spill over the rim.
• Plant along partially shaded border edges for a continuous band of summer colour.
• Combine with coleus and ferns for contrasting leaf shapes and colours.
• Use in sheltered hanging baskets where the dangling flowers can be seen from below.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern courtyard, Urban city garden, Cottage garden, Small-space and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Coleus, New Guinea impatiens, Wishbone flower, Japanese painted fern and Sweet potato vine.

Wildlife: Offers some pollen to visiting insects, but it is not a major wildlife food plant or a substitute for locally native flowering plants.

• Root and stem rot: prevent persistent wetness with good drainage; discard plants with extensive soft, collapsing stems and replace contaminated potting mix.
• Grey mould: remove mouldy flowers and leaves, improve spacing and avoid leaving foliage wet overnight.
• Mealybugs or aphids: inspect leaf undersides and stem joints; remove small infestations by hand or use an insecticidal soap labelled for begonias, testing a small area first.
• Leaf scorch: move plants out of harsh afternoon sun and keep moisture more even; scorched tissue will not recover.

Toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten. Begonias contain soluble oxalates, with the highest concentrations generally in underground parts; keep all parts out of reach. Ingestion can cause drooling, vomiting and potentially serious illness, particularly if substantial amounts are eaten. People should not eat it either: ingestion may irritate the mouth and stomach, and larger amounts can be harmful. Seek veterinary or medical advice after ingestion.

• Angel-wing begonia (Begonia cane-type hybrids)

  Many have taller, more upright, jointed canes and silver-spotted leaves. Dragon Wing usually has plain glossy green leaves and a lower, broader, arching habit.

• Wax begonia (Begonia Semperflorens-Cultorum Group)

  Usually forms a smaller, compact mound with rounded leaves rather than long, pointed, wing-shaped leaves.

• Bolivian begonia (Begonia boliviensis)

  Has narrower, toothed leaves and elongated, often orange-red flowers with long pointed segments, rather than Dragon Wing's broader flower segments.

Begonia honours Michel Bégon, a French administrator and patron of botany, while Dragon Wing refers to the wing-like shape of the leaves.

Propagation. Root non-flowering stem cuttings in a moist, free-draining propagation mix in warm, bright shade. Seed saved from hybrid plants may not reproduce the parent reliably; check any plant patent or plant breeders' rights restrictions before propagating named selections.

Accepted botanical name

Begonia

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