Begonias, native to tropical or subtropical regions, are mostly perennials, but they are widely grown as annuals. They have gained much popularity because of the striking foliage and equally amazing flowers. Begonias come in a myriad of colors, sizes, and shapes. With over 1800 species, this genus is sure to adorn your garden with magnificent bloom and foliage, both indoors and outdoors.
These easy-growing plants produce spectacular flowers even in shaded conditions where only a few flowering plants thrive. Their gorgeous foliage, huge ever-blooming flowers, and easy care make them very popular among gardeners. Most begonias do well in moist, well-drained, rich, organic soil when placed in full to partial sun.
Begonias are broadly categorized based on their root structure:
3 Types of Root Structure in Begonias
i) Fibrous: Begonias belonging to this category have standard root balls with thin fibrous roots. These annual ornamental plants bear round and waxy leaves and small flowers of about 1.5 inches. This group includes wax, cane, and dragon-wing begonias among other varieties. Fibrous types are generally selected for their flowers rather than their foliage.
ii) Tuberous: These begonias have a fleshy, round tuberous root like a potato. The tubers are often planted as annuals during winter. Their tubers can be stored indoors as well for the next season. This group has the most spectacular blooms in shades of pink, yellow, orange, red, or white and generally bloom in mid-summer through fall. This type is popular both for garden planting and for containers.
iii) Rhizomatous: Rhizomatous begonias are so named because they grow from a stubby stem structure called a rhizome. They have the showiest foliage in terms of color, shape, and texture. Many have fuzzy, variegated leaves in hues that range from light pink to deep purple and yellow to dark green.
These fibrous-rooted begonias are a good choice for beginning gardeners due to their easy maintenance. These perennials produce clusters of large flowers in shades of red, white, and pink, which bloom continuously. Another important attraction is waxy, glossy, oval green or bronze leaves. They prefer moist, well-drained, organic soil.
Colors: White, pink, mauve, red, magenta, bicolor
Flowering Season: Spring to frost
Height/Width: 6-12 inches/6-12 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full Sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 8b-11
This enchanting species is also known as Santa Cruz and Bonfire begonia. It is a wonderful trailing begonia, producing large, dangling, eye-catching bright orange-red flowers with five oblong petals. It has tuberous roots, and its cascading stems are adorned with arrow-shaped green leaves having pink edges. This perennial, low-maintenance variety does best in moist but well-drained loam. It is drought tolerant and easy to grow in fertile soil. It has its origin in montane cloud forests, which are on the eastern side of the Andes, in Bolivia and Argentina.
Colors: Orange-red
Flowering Season: Late spring to fall
Height/Width: 1-2 feet/1-2 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Full Sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 9-11
Originating from Brazil, this perennial begonia offers a treat to the eyes for its stunning leaves. Its rounded, lily-pad-like leaves are deeply veined, giving them a crinkled appearance, hence the name. The lustrous green leaves have dark-maroon undersides, creating an interesting contrast. This easy to grow, low maintenance variety has rhizomatous roots and performs well in slightly acidic, well-drained, peat mixed soil. It produces white flowers on its short stems.
Colors: White
Flowering Season: Summer
Height/Width: 5 inches-1 feet/10-18 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 9a-11
Native to Southern China and Japan, this herbaceous perennial variety is tuberous, bearing heart-shaped olive-green leaves with heavily veined red undersides. It produces pendulous clusters of slightly fragrant, satiny pink or white blossoms at the tips of pinkish-red stems. This begonia type does best in acidic or neutral, moist but well-drained loam or sandy soil.
Colors: Pink, white
Flowering Season: Midsummer to fall
Height/Width: 24-36 inches / 24-36 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial to full shade
USDA Zone: 6-9
It is a whimsical member of the begonia genus easily recognized for its polka dot leaves. Its wing-shaped leaves are marked with silver spots on the green background. This variant also sports clusters of pretty white flowers. Use a well-draining potting mix for the growth of this plant.
Colors: White
Flowering Season: Spring to fall
Height/Width: 12-18 inches/18-20 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 10b-11
Also known as Elatior begonia, it is a hybrid produced by English plant breeder James Veitch in 1883. He crossed a tuberous begonia from South America with a wax begonia, called Begonia socotrana from the Scootra Island of the coast of East Africa. Rieger begonia has dark green glossy leaves with serrated edges and clusters of delicate flowers. The bright-colored blooms are an interesting combination of single and double-petaled flowers produced on the same plant. This easy-growing low-maintenance houseplant performs well in rich, well-drained potting soil.
Colors: Red, white, yellow, orange, and pink
Flowering Season: Spring to fall
Height/Width: 8-12 inches/12-15 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 8-11
This variety of begonia falls into the wax begonia category, having fibrous roots. It has vivid yellow splotches on bright green leaves. It is a variegated cultivar and is truly unique for the psychedelic vibes given by the design of its leaves. It loves moist, well-drained, rich organic soil.
Colors: Pink
Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
Height/Width: 6-12 inches/18-24 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 10-11
This perennial begonia produces numerous spectacular large, ruffled, double blossoms with fringed edges. Its fiery scarlet-red petals stand out against deep green, wavy leaves. It does best in moist, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic fertile clay, loamy, or sandy soil. It is a fast-growing, easy to grow, low-maintenance, tuberous begonia.
Colors: Red
Flowering Season: Early summer to winter
Height/Width: 1-2 feet/1-2 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 9-11
It is an herbaceous evergreen perennial featuring dainty frilly flowers. Its succulent heart-shaped leaves remain green throughout the year. This high maintenance tuberous begonia requires little more care and maintenance. It performs well in moist, well-drained, rich, organic soil.
Colors: Pink
Flowering Season: Mid-spring to mid-fall
Height/Width: 6-12 inches / 12 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to full shade
USDA Zone: 9-11
It is also called the sun begonia, belonging to the wax Begonia species. This shrubby cultivar features unique and attractive semi-succulent, glossy, oval-shaped, bronzy-green leaves with toothed margins and red undersides. It has fibrous roots, performing best in moist but well-drained, slightly acidic, or neutral sandy to clay loam.
Colors: Salmon pink
Flowering Season: Late spring to late fall
Height/Width: 18-24 inches/18-24 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 10a-11
This tuberous begonia belongs to the famous ‘Nonstop series’. Its spectacular blooms resemble roses with their tightly packed yellow petals. Its deep black and purple leaves set the stage for the electric yellow flowers to pop in the shade. This easy-to-grow perennial variety does well in fertile, well-drained, and neutral to slightly acidic, loamy, or sandy soil.
Colors: Yellow
Flowering Season: Late spring to fall
Height/Width: 8 inches -1 feet/1-2 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Full to partial shade
USDA Zone: 10-11
This is another offering from the ‘Nonstop series’ of tuberous begonias. This perennial, tuberous variety features dainty white frilly double flowers with lemon yellow eyes and a scarlet tint at the ends of the stems. Its succulent heart-shaped leaves remain dark green with distinctive gray veins and tinges of red throughout the season. It grows well in fertile, well-drained, and neutral to slightly acidic, loamy, or sandy soil.
Colors: Pink
Flowering Season: Summer
Height/Width: 18-12 inches/12-16 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full to partial shade
USDA Zone: 10-11
Its beautiful vibrant red blooms with touches of yellow in the center stand out against dark green foliage with bronzy-copper overtones. This fibrous-rooted low-maintenance wax begonia performs well in neutral to slightly acidic sandy or clay loam.
Colors: Scarlet red
Flowering Season: Spring, summer
Height/Width: 8-12 inches/10-12 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 10-11
As the name suggests, it blooms into unique white, frilly, double flowers. Its attractive succulent heart-shaped shining leaves remain dark green with hints of coppery-bronze throughout the year. This fibrous-rooted wax begonia is easy to care for. It does best in moist but well-drained, rich fertile organic soil.
Colors: White
Flowering Season: Mid-spring to mid-fall
Height/Width: 8-18 inches/8-14 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 10a-11b
It bears glossy, red-edged, rounded, green foliage, producing fragrant, lovely white blossoms with touches of yellow in the center. This tender perennial prefers moist but well-drained soil.
Colors: White
Flowering Season: Summer
Height/Width: 6-8 inches/10-12 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 10-15
This begonia variant is a cross between Begonia aconitifolia and Begonia coccinea. It falls into the fibrous-root, cane begonia category, as its long stems look like bamboo canes. It has pointed dark green variegated leaves with red undersides. Blooms are lighter red when grown in the shade, but the best color comes when grown in the early morning sun. This perennial, low-maintenance hybrid does well in moist but well-drained, sandy o clay loam.
Colors: Pink
Flowering Season: Throughout the year
Height/Width: 1-2 feet/0.5-2.5 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun to shade
USDA Zone: 9-11
A member of the fibrous cane begonia group, this variant has got the name for the folded, often feathery, wing-like leaves. It has thick jointed stems like bamboo canes, brilliant foliage, and heavy clusters of dangling flowers. Its glossy green leaves are speckled, polka-dotted, banded, or splotched in multicolor, including metallic silver and a red underside. Deeply veined, lobed, with wavy or feathered margins, these leaves are truly unique. It blooms into large pendulous clusters of white, orange, pink, or red flowers. Native to South America, the angel wing is an easy-to-grow houseplant, performing well in moist, rich, organic soil.
Colors: White, orange, pink, red
Flowering Season: Late winter
Height/Width: 24-36 inches/24-36 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: 10a-11
Picotee Begonia is another type of tuberous begonia. It is an upright, tender perennial with large blooms. The flowers are up to 6 inches across, having heavily ruffled petals with red edges. Like any other variety, this begonia is also an excellent choice for brightening up shaded areas. It grows well in soil that is well-drained, fertile, and neutral to somewhat acidic.
Colors: Pink, red, orange, yellow, apricot, with red edges
Flowering Season: Summer
Height/Width: 14-20 inches/10-12 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun to full shade
USDA Zone: 9-11
It is an herbaceous annual wax begonia with an upright stem. This member of the big begonia family sports dainty clusters of red orchid-like flowers at the ends of the stems. Its main attraction is its glossy heart-shaped leaves that remain dark green with hints of coppery-bronze throughout the year. It thrives well in moist, well-drained soil. This is a high-maintenance plant that requires regular care and upkeep.
Colors: Red
Flowering Season: Mid-spring to mid-fall
Height/Width: 15-20 inches/15-20 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun to full shade
USDA Zone: 11-13
As the name says, this angel wing begonia hybrid has a wonderful cascading habit. It offers a spectacular array of colorful pink and red dangling flower clusters. These eye-catching blooms can measure up to 5 inches. It can be grown with easy to moderate care in rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Colors: Red, orange, pink, yellow, white
Flowering Season: Summer
Height/Width: 7-11 inches/20-35 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Full to partial sun
USDA Zone: 12-13b
It is a wax begonia variant with an upright spreading habit. This herbaceous annual features large pink flowers that pair well with its bright green leaves. It is easy to care for and does well in containers. This variety of begonia prefers evenly moist, well-drained rich soil.
Colors: Pink
Flowering Season: Spring
Height/Width: 9-12 inches/7-9 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun to full shade
USDA Zone: 10-11
This begonia belongs to the rex begonia family. It is adorned with crimson red leaves with a swirling black wavy border. As it lacks chlorophyll, it is a slow-growing plant compared to the green counterparts of rex begonias. Though it produces flowers, they are quite insignificant. The leaf colors shift depending on the season. Sometimes, it seems like the red is slowly kissing goodbye, turning the leaves silver. It requires a very cold climate to retain the bright red hue. This plant thrives well in acidic to neutral, moist, well-drained soil.
Height: 6-12 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun to full shade
USDA Zone: 10-11
As the name says, it’s a super-sized begonia. Its large arching stems and profuse flowering over green or bronze leaves make this variant a showstopper. It has fibrous roots, performing best in moist but well-drained, slightly acidic, or neutral soil.
Colors: Red
Flowering Season: Spring, late spring, summer, autumn, late summer
Height/Width: 2-3 feet/1.5-2 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Full to partial sun
USDA Zone: 10a-11
It is a hybrid species with shiny, lush green foliage and clusters of bright red or pink flowers. Dragon wing begonias are often confused with angel wing begonias due to the shape of their leaves. If observed, they can be distinguished from one another by looking at the polka dot patterns. Dragon wing begonias don’t have the polka dot patterns like most angel wing begonias. This easy-maintenance plant performs well in moist, well-drained, rich soil.
Colors: Scarlet-red, pink
Flowering Season: Late spring to fall
Height/Width: 1.5-2 feet/1-1.5 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun to shade
USDA Zone: 9a-11b
White Begonias: Ambassador White, Crinkle-leaf Begonia, Begonia ‘Doublet White’
Red Begonias: Begonia ‘Nonstop Red’, Reiger Begonia, Begonia ‘Fimbriata Ruffled Red’
Pink Begonias: Begonia ‘Nonstop Pink’, Begonia ‘Torch Pink’, Pink Scarlet Begonia
Orange Begonias: Begonia ‘Nonstop Orange’, Begonia boliviensis ‘Crackling Fire Orange’, Begonia ‘Funky Orange’
Yellow Begonias: Begonia ‘Nonstop Yellow’, Begonia Nonstop ‘Mocca Yellow’, Rieger Begonia ‘Glory Lemon’
Black Begonias: Begonia ‘Black Mamba’, Begonia ‘Black Taffeta’, Begonia ‘Black Fang’
Trailing/Hanging Begonias: Begonia boweri, Begonia hispidivillosa, Begonia coccinea
Rare Begonias: Begonia antsiranensis, Begonia blancii, Begonia bowerae
One note of caution in the end, begonias contain soluble calcium oxalate crystals in their roots and stems. These crystals are irritants and can cause inflammation of the mouth and throat when ingested. Since the roots are underground, exposure to these crystals is unusual. However, you should still be cautious about children and pets. Just follow this precautionary measure, and keep enjoying your colorful begonias in the patio, yard, or garden.
Get email updates about what's new for gardeners this season
