If you are repotting, do it in the spring into a slightly larger pot with fresh, fast-draining, and richly organic potting soil. Height: 0.50 to 1.00 feet ... some for both. Spread. These little charmers grow 8 to 10 inches tall and bear pink, red, or white blooms atop either green or bronze foliage. Give them as much bright light as possible. If begonias become crowded or too tall, keep in mind that the fleshy stems can be pinched back to a smaller size; the plants will sprout new branches, leaves and flowers for a renewed, fresh display. They benefit from relatively lower humidity. It is an extremely popular begonia grown in St. Louis as an annual. Wax begonias are not merely annuals. In most cases, it's better to take cuttings of older plants than to struggle with repotting and rehabilitating leggy specimens. Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home. and more than 10,000 hybrids and cultivars. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. In reality, they are a perennial shrub that grows to respectable size and flowers readily. Jacob J. Wright became a full-time writer in 2008, with articles appearing on various websites. There are more than 1,500 species of begonias (Begonia spp.) Semperflorens begonias are not difficult plants to grow and can be included in a massed windowsill planting for bright indoor color. Whether you are gifted with a green thumb or not, our guide will help you grow the perfect houseplants. They also flourish in containers and flower pots, so they make a terrific indoor plant as well. For example, some wax begonia plants may develop upright, oval growth shapes while others genetically stay compact or low, perhaps becoming broader than tall when mature. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! As with all begonias, they do not like cold drafts and cannot tolerate freezing, but will thrive with temperatures in the 60s. The B. schmidtiana is also included in the semperflorens group. They’re one of the few annual plants that flower well in part shade. Wright holds a graduate diploma in environmental horticulture from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Science in public horticulture from the University of Delaware. Marketing Information: Bench Card Download a Bench Card . Sometimes called fibrous begonia, these deer-resistant, non-invasive plants form small clumps that grow anywhere from 6 to 18 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches. Probably the most popular member of the family is commonly called wax begonia. They can reach approximately fifteen inches in height. 6 to 24 inches x 12 to 18 inches Added Benefits. Native to Brazil, Begonia semperflorens can be winter hardy in zones 10-11, but they are grown as annuals in most of the United States. This plant has been bred extensively over the years and its many descendants are correctly known as the Semperflorens cultorum group. The first is a straight-line grid with plants positioned so that the rows and plants are geometrically perfect. Mature Height x Spread. Wax begonias are so adaptable they thrive in partial sun and shade and work just as well in the flower border as they do in pots, planters, and window boxes. Semperflorens begonias, commonly called wax begonias, are one of the most popular bedding plants in the Western world. Bronze-leaf wax begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum) are one of the few cultivars that prefer full sunlight. When reading plant labels of seedling transplants at nursery, take note of any specific information on unusual growth characteristics. For wax begonias, that means planting them roughly 10 to 15 inches apart from each other, when measured from center-to-center of plants. Begonias are a broad group of shade-loving flowers. attracts beneficial insects . Semperflorens begonias, commonly called wax begonias, are one of the most popular bedding plants in landscaping. Water when the soil dries through the first half-inch, then water thoroughly and let drain. To keep the plants looking vibrant, pinch off old blooms and keep the plant free of brown and old leaves. These plants will not produce accurately from seed, but like many other begonias, they propagate easily from leaf-tip cuttings. According to the American Horticultural Society's "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants," modern varieties of wax begonias are complex hybrids derived from at least three different begonia species. Every third or fourth feeding, use a high phosphorous fertilizer. Four plants are positioned so that they look like the corners of a square. The best time to take cuttings is in the spring when the plants begin to grow again. The reasons for this heavy use are obviousthey're a durable, ever-blooming plant that provides sweeping color in single or double blooms. They are grown as annuals or as perennials in USDA zones 10 and 11. ", The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. He has worked professionally at gardens in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Wax Begonias are perennial plants that are often grown as annuals. Vigor & Size. If you plant wax begonias in sandy soils, hot sunlight or where irrigation isn't available, expect plant growth to be stunted in comparison to plants grown in ideal conditions. Like other begonias, they thrive when they are slightly pot-bound, so it's likely that a wax begonia will only need to be repotted once or perhaps twice in its life. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. For a container gardening interest, they look gorgeous in flower boxes, baskets and containers, and they will work really well in rock gardens. When planting wax begonias en masse, two orientation configurations are employed by gardeners. According to the American Begonia Society, this is a many-branched plant with small velvety leaves. The physical characteristics of these plants depend on the breeder, but they have been hybridized for various colors and heights. Begonias can be divided into 7 informal groups by growth habit: cane-like, rex-cultorum, rhizomatous, semperflorens, tuberous, trailing or scandent, thick-stemmed and shrub-like. Established plants also require less water and can go for a long time between waterings. Megawatt Begonia is a monster of a begonia. This plant has been popular since the Victorian age, and it is still popular in gardens and homes today.Depending on the species, this plant can grow anywhere from six inches tall up to … According to the American Horticultural Society's "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants," modern varieties of wax begonias are complex hybrids derived from at least three different begonia species. Height: 1.00 to 1.50 feet Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet Bloom Time: May to frost ... Begonia × benariensis is a hybrid wax begonia. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Semperflorens should not be sprayed or subjected to especially high humidity as it will encourage powdery mildew on their leaves. The wax begonia is a plant that thrives in growing zones 10 and 11 as perennials, but they can also grow in other zones within the country as annuals. Genus name honors Michael Begon (1638-1710), Governor of French Canada. Sizes of Begonia Plants. Wax begonias like average to warm temps. Use liquid fertilizer weekly at quarter strength or biweekly at half strengt… Flowers reliably bloom throughout the growing season (May to October). Begonias flower throughout the summer and up to the first frost. While most people think of these exclusively as outdoor plants, in reality, they also make excellent indoor plants. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Growing Conditions for Wax Begonias (Semperflorens), 10 Varieties of Begonias for Gardens and Containers, How to Grow Strawberry Begonia (Saxifraga Stolonifera) Indoors, 11 Good Shade Plants to Grow Along a North-Facing Wall, How to Grow and Care for a Tetrastigma (Chestnut Vine) Indoors, How to Grow Gloxinia Senningia Hybrids Indoors, Growing a Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) Indoors. Thus, in sandy soil you may choose to space wax begonias slightly closer together to create a denser display, such as 6 to 10 inches apart. Megawatt Begonia will reach heights of 20-28″ (51-71 cm). Use liquid fertilizer weekly at quarter strength or biweekly at half strength. Alternatively, you can stagger the plants so when viewed from above, three plants form the corners of a triangle. Take cuttings without blooms but at least two nodes and bury them in the moist potting soil mix, then leave in a warm, semi-shaded spot until new growth appears.