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> Types of Begonias
Types of Begonias
by Brad Thompson
Canes
Cane begonias have been popular plants for
many years and were probably grown by your
Grandmother who called them "Angel Wing"
begonias. Many types have been created since
then and those grown by your Grandmother are
probably still in cultivation. There are
several types of canes in varying sizes but
they all have in common tough stems that
have a bamboo appearance, which gives them
the cane handle.
The superba canes generally grow the largest
and can have leaves up to about 14 inches
long and can grow to 12 feet high. They are
usually kept smaller and more compact than
that though. They have leaves that are cleft
and most types have silver spots or splashes
on them. They have large flower clusters and
some are fragrant. They are most popular in
the southern states where they are grown
outdoors in frost free areas but can also be
grown quite well indoors or in a greenhouse.
Two begonia hybridizers, Irene Nuss and
Belva Kusler created many of the first
superbas to become popular, and Irene's
hybrid B. 'Irene Nuss' and Belva's B.
'Sophie Cecile' are the two most widely
circulated superbas of all time.
The other most popular type of cane is the
type formally called "angel wing" begonias.
These come in every size from types commonly
grown in baskets to large upright plants but
all have the familiar pointed leaf shape
that gave them their former common name.
This type is still widely grown and many new
hybrids are created every year. Many have
silver spotted/splashed leaves and some have
different serrated edges. Most are heavy
bloomers, some even ever bloomers.
There are other types which fall somewhere
between the two types mentioned above. There
are also the mallet type canes. These are
not as widely grown because they are more
tender. They have leaves in various colors,
most purple, pink or white. They are
spectacular looking.
Shrubs
The shrub type is also very variable and can
range in size from miniatures to giants 12
feet tall. Some varieties have leaves up to
24 inches long under perfect conditions. The
leaf surface is also variable and some have
smooth shiny leaves and other types have
hairy or felted leaves. This type gets its
name from the way it grows with many shoots
coming up from the soil to make a full plant
like any other shrub you would grow. They
are very multi-stemmed.
Most varieties do not bloom as often or as
heavily as the cane type but there are many
that are ever blooming and are used as
bedding plants across the country. The shrub
type is grown mostly for its ease of
growing, interesting leaves, and full
growth. Most shrubs have white flowers but
there are plenty of pink and red ones also,
and many have hairy flowers.
Rhizomatous
The rhizomatous types are grown mostly for
their interesting leaves and compact growth
but they have the added bonus of a massive
display of flowers, usually in the spring,
that cover the whole plant. Most are spring
blooming but there are a few that bloom all
year. They range in size from tiny miniature
to large plants like B. 'Freddie' that can
have 3 foot leaves under optimum conditions
(one growing outdoors in Hawaii grew that
large). The plants can also grow very large
across but don't reach great height, because
they grow from rhizomes that creep along the
ground, which gives this type its name.
The rhizomatous types are popular all across
the country and one in particular B. 'Erythrophylla'
was probably grown by your Grandmother, who
called it a beef steak begonia because of
its large round leaves. (I know I've said
grown by your Grandmother several times. I
don't want to give you the impression that
begonias are only grown by grandmothers, I
only want to reacquaint you with past
memories and give you an idea of how long
begonias have been around.) Some types of
rhizomatous have intricate patterns on their
leaves in almost any earth tone color and
silver, some are hairy leaved, some are
round and shiny, and some are star shaped.
There is really no end to the variety of
leaf shape, color and texture in this type
of begonia, there is something for every
taste.
Semperflorens
This type of begonia is probably the most
widely grown begonia and in some parts of
the country is called "wax type" because of
the waxy look to the leaves. These begonias
are grown mostly as bedding plants and
annuals but are really a perennial shrub
type of begonia in areas that don't freeze.
All have round leaves and are ever blooming
and the flowers come in every shade of red,
pink and white. The leaves come mostly in
two colors, green and bronze, but there are
variegated types such as B. `Charm' and
calla types with new leaves that come out
white. The flowers come in single and double
types. Some of the specie semperflorens have
felted white or brown leaves.
Tuberous
The tuberous type of begonia is also very
popular around the world as a bedding plant
and also as a greenhouse plant. In some
countries such as England it is the main
type grown. The tuberous types are grown for
their flowers although there are a few
varieties and species, which have
interesting leaves and growth. The flower
size can range from small 1/2 inch flowers
to the large exhibition types that can have
flowers the size of dinner plates. The
flowers range in type from singles to full
doubles and come in every color except
shades of blue. There are even flowers with
different color edges and some are scented.
The plant types range from trailing types
that are grown in hanging baskets with
pendulant flowers to sturdy upright plants.
The tuberous types grow from tubers and go
dormant during short days during the fall
and winter. They are restarted in the
spring. Another related type is the
semi-tuberous which don't have a tuber but
which form a caudex at the base. This caudex
is like a large swollen stem from which many
smaller stems grow. Most semi-tuberous have
small leaves and small white flowers, but at
least a couple are pink. They make almost a
natural bonsai with their swollen base and
small stems and leaves.
Rexes (Rex Cultorum)
Rex begonias are the showboats of the
begonia world and are a type of rhizomatous
begonia that are grown for their
multicolored leaves. Their leaves come in
every color, pattern and shade, and every
size and shape. All Rex Cultorum types are
descended from the Indian specie B. rex that
was crossed with other types of rhizomatous
begonias. Rex begonias do bloom but are not
grown for their blooms, which pale in
comparison to their spectacular leaves.
Trailing/Scandent
The trailing type of begonias is grown
mostly for the trailing habit but also put
on a spectacular show of flowers, usually in
the spring. Some of the newer varieties have
a longer blooming period or are ever
blooming. Most have glossy leaves and look
like a philodendron, but there are types
that get large leaves and will climb. In
their native habitat these types will climb
up the trunks of trees. Most of the trailing
types have white or pink flowers.
Thick-stemmed
The thick-stemmed types are not as widely
grown but come in various forms. The common
factor between them is their very thick
stems. Most thick-stemmed types don't branch
much but send up new growth from the base.
They also show off the thick stems because
they drop their lower leaves and usually
only have leaves on the tips. These can be
very attractive and are definitely unusual
if you're looking for something different to
grow.
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