Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia1
Edward F. Gilman, Teresa Howe2
Introduction
These tough little compact garden plants reach barely a foot high but provide almost continuous color in full sun or partial shade locations during the warm months of the year (Fig. 1). The single or double flowers are available in various shades of red, pink, or white, and the shiny, large, succulent leaves are either green, variegated, or bronze-colored. It is the leaf coloration which attracts many people to this plant. The bronze-leaved begonias are better suited to full sun locations and plants will flower from spring until killed back by frost. Plant 12 inches apart in a bed to form a solid mass of color. If desired, plants can be dug up and potted, cut back by one-third, and will continue to bloom indoors throughout the winter in a very sunny window.
General Information
Figure 1.
Wax Begonia.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Scientific name: Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum
Pronunciation: bee-GO-nee-uh x sem-pur-FLOR-enz-kull-TOR-um
Common name(s): Wax Begonia, Fibrous Begonia
Family: Begoniaceae
Plant type: annual
USDA hardiness zones: all zones (Fig. 2)
Figure 2.
Shaded area represents potential planting range.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Planting month for zone 7: May; Jun; Jul
Planting month for zone 8: May; Jun; Jul; Aug
Planting month for zone 9: Apr; May; Sep; Oct
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Feb; Mar; Oct; Nov; Dec
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: mass planting; container or above-ground planter
Availability: generally available in many areas within its
hardiness range
Description
Height: .5 to 1.5 feet
Spread: .5 to 1 feet
Plant habit: round
Plant density: dense
Growth rate: slow
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: serrulate
Leaf shape: ovate
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaf type and persistence: not applicable
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: purple or red; variegated
Fall color: not applicable
Fall characteristic: not applicable
Flower
Flower color: white; pink; salmon
Flower characteristic: showy
Fruit
Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: not applicable
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: reddish
Current year stem/twig thickness: thick
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; acidic; loam
Drought tolerance:
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 6 to 12 inches
Other
Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: not applicable
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
Begonias can be propagated by seed, leaf cuttings or soft wood cuttings. Some may form many shoots from the ground and can be divided. The seed is very fine and may be hard for inexperienced gardeners to handle. Plant seed in a light, welldrained media kept uniformly moist. Sow the seed thinly and do not cover it. Germination is best one-foot under fluorescent lights left on 24-hours. The seed germinates in one to two weeks at temperatures between 70 and 75-degrees F. In USDA hardiness
Flower of wax Begonia.
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zones 9 and 10 plant in late fall to early winter for winter color.
Cultivars are available in various heights from 6 to 18 inches, various foliage colors and various flower colors.
Thrips cause irregular reddish brown lines on the upper sides of the leaves. Spots form on the underside of the leaves, especially along the main veins. The leaves may be deformed.
Black vine weevil grub eats the roots causing wilting and death.
Mites stunt the new growth and form a webbing in the foliage.
Pests and Management
Begonias may be infected with powdery mildew, especially if growing in the shade.
Stem rot causes the stalks to rot and collapse. The rotted areas are usually black. Avoid crowding and remove any infected plants.
Footnotes
This document is FPS63, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Revised May 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Teresa Howe, coordinator - Research Programs/Services, Gulf Coast REC, Bradenton, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
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