The Importance of Begonias to Humans

Outdoor Ornamental

• Many varieties of begonias make excellent outdoor garden flowers. Tuberous begonias, named for the root-like tuber at their base, produce showy red, pink, orange, white or yellow blossoms throughout the summer. Thriving in partial shade rather than full sun, they do not perform well in excessive heat. "Dragon Wing" begonias reach about 2 to 3 feet high, flourish in either partial shade or full sun and blossom from spring to autumn.

Indoor

• In addition to their importance as garden plants, begonias also do well in containers, either as indoor plants or set on patios or decks. "Lorraine" variety begonias add winter color to your home, because they flower from late fall to early spring. The "Eliator" varieties have larger flowers than the "Lorraine" type and also flower throughout the year, according the the Clemson Cooperative Extension. The shrimp begonia (Begonia limmingheiana) makes a good plant for a hanging basket due to its spreading growth habit.

Foliage

• Although gardeners value many types of begonias for their blooms, they also appreciate the attractive foliage of other varieties. Foliage begonias typically have either spreading or bushy growth habits, although a few taller types exist. The leaves can range from 1/2 inch to 12 inches long and have a wide variety of shapes, including star-shaped and oval. One of the most prominent foliage begonias, the "Rex" cultivars, produce leaves that often come in multiple colors, such as green, red and silver.

Tips

• Begonias have little cold hardiness and cannot survive outdoors during the winter in most regions. You can either treat them as annuals, discarding the plants at the end of the growing season, or put them in containers and bring them indoors for the winter. Place your outdoor begonias about 1 foot apart in the flower bed. Grow a mass of plants together for the best visual effect. Watch for pests such as mealybugs and spider mites.