Begonias are one of the most show-stopping varieties of flowers you can have in your garden or your home. Most begonia varieties are characterized by their big, showy blooms and beautiful green foliage. They are most commonly grown in pots, window baskets, and flower beds, and many cascading varieties make beautiful hanging planters and baskets. Depending on the kind of begonias, blooms vary from small hanging petals to big bursting double rose-like blooms. Most begonia varieties do well in part shade, making them a strong favorite for shady back yards and in containers on big front porches. They are also often grown as house plants, and are loved for their long-lasting blooms that are prominent throughout summer until the first frost.
If you’re interested in learning more about begonia care, check out our post here.
To learn about some of the types of begonia that we sell here at DutchGrown, read on.
Begonia Cascade
Cascade begonias are one of the most popular varieties for containers due to their trailing growth. Their big, beautiful blooms spill out of whatever planter they are in, making them a true showstopper when displayed in hanging baskets. They make beautiful editions to any porch container collection and are also a captivating choice for window boxes.
Begonia cascade come in a variety of colors and bloom sizes, some even growing up to eight inches. We have several cascade begonia varieties available. Cascade Sunray features double blooms in shades of orange and yellow, Cascade Florence features the same in pink and white, and Cascade Yellow/White mix will give you beautiful pots of yellow and white flowers.
If you’re looking for the perfect hanging basket plant, cascade begonias will fit the bill nicely.
Begonia Boliviensis
Among the begonia varieties that are perfect for hanging planters is Begonia Boliviensis. Where Cascade Begonias have big, beautiful blooms, Boliviensis feature smaller, elongated, bell shaped blossoms. Like its flowers, begonia boliviensis foliage is long and slender, characterized by serrated edges and light green veining. Like cascade begonias, boliviensis grow in a trailing fashion, making them perfect for hanging baskets and window boxes. For a classic, white flower with a yellow center, go for Begonia Boliviensis Santa Barbara. For salmon-orange blossoms, chose Begonia Boliviensis San Francisco, and for bright and fiery orange-red, choose Begonia Boliviensis Santa Cruz. This variety are my personal favorite for growing in hanging baskets on my front porch!
Begonia Wummi
If you’re looking for a more classic potted plant with upright growth, Begonia Wummi might be the way to go. Its flowers are large double blooms against beautiful, serrated foliage. It is a stand-out in garden beds and planters alike. Its colorful blooms are rose-like in appearance, blending in beautifully with a variety of garden plants. They would make an excellent foreground to a tall rose bush in the background, especially in contrasting colors.
For peach, blush pink, and yellow blooms, we highly recommend Begonia Wummi Maskerade. Again, this is a favorite of mine for pots around my porch and small garden; the colors are gorgeous and hard to find in any other flower. For more subdued colors of cream, pastel yellow, and peach, Begonia Wummi Creme is another excellent option.
Begonia Crispa Marginata
If you’re looking for flowers that will grab the attention of everyone in your garden, Begonia Crispa Marginata are a great choice. They may be the showiest begonia variety, with large, lacy petals surrounding a yellow center. The foliage is arguably just as beautiful, with lush green notched leaves as a background to these stunning blooms. These begonias make beautiful additions as border plants or in containers. They are also an excellent variety to grow indoors. We have two varieties of Begonia Crispa Marginata, the Marginata Red/White and the Marginata Yellow/Red.
Picotee Lace
If you’re a fan of lacy blooms, the best of our begonia varieties for you is likely going to be Picotee Lace. These blooms have what feels like hundreds of lacy petals bunched together like a fluffy rose on a background of beautiful green foliage. They grow upright and make excellent plants for both garden beds and borders, and are even a great houseplant year round.
Our two varieties of Picotee Lace are Red and Apricot.
Begonias are one of the most-loved plants in the flower world because of their amazing variety. If begonias thrive in your garden, there are so many different colors, shapes, and sizes that can be featured all throughout your yard, porch, and home. Try out some of our begonia varieties this growing season, and let us know how it goes!
