Tropical Bedding Plants

Identification

• Tropical plants popular for beds include wax begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum), native to Brazil, and moss verbena (Glandularia puchella), native to Argentina and Chile.

Description

• Wax begonia has a mounded growth habit with a mature height of 6 inches to 1-½ feet. The succulent plant has glossy oval foliage in shades of green, bronze, mahogany and red. The single or double flowers bloom in shades of red, pink or white. Moss verbena has a sprawling growth with a spread of up to 3 feet. The 1-foot-tall plant has aromatic lobed foliage and blooms with 3-inch clusters of purple, white or pink flowers all summer.

Cultural Requirements

• Plant wax begonia in fertile, well-drained and moist soil, and in areas of bright light. Water regularly and bring inside for winter. Wax begonia is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 9 to 11 and is easily propagated with stem cuttings. Moss verbena is hardy in zones 7b to 11, growing as an evergreen perennial in zones 9b to 11. Plant in a well-drained soil and areas of full sun to partial shade for best growth.