Begonia and its varieties: descriptions of varieties with names and photos

Begonias look no less impressive than roses or peonies when they bloom, and you can admire them for 3-4 months. This tropical plant can be grown on windowsills in apartments and outdoors, in gardens and flower beds. Botanists have described over 1,500 species of the Begoniaceae family found in the wild. However, in cooler climates, no more than 100 varieties are planted, many of which are specifically adapted to variable climates.

Features of begonia

Plant species differ not only in petal color. They include annuals and perennials, herbs, shrubs, and even creeping vines. The roots can be long, thickened, or tuberous, while the leaves can be dissected, entire, with wavy, smooth, or serrated edges. The lower part is often more vibrantly colored—dark purple, brown, or reddish. The upper part is green, emerald, and in some species, whitish patterns or blotches appear. The stems can be covered with hairs.

The flowers of various begonia varieties are similar—a complex, irregularly shaped inflorescence with petals of varying sizes, arranged opposite each other. Possible colors include white, orange, yellow, and a full range of pinks, from light to dark. After pollination, the fruit forms—a triangular capsule filled with small seeds.

Types of Begonia

Plants are usually classified by their basic characteristics. However, this flower is also divided by root shape, appearance, or propagation method. Breeders believe it's best to consider the following types separately: bush plants, which are propagated using apical shoots or seeds; leaf plants, which are propagated by dividing the roots; and tuberous plants, which are transplanted to the ground.

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There's another classification, proposed by Professor Vorontsov, a breeder specializing in these plant species. He proposes dividing begonias into types based on their external characteristics. Describing shrubby, ornamental foliage, flowering, and tuberous begonias, he noted the characteristics of each type. For example, the former have tall, elastic stems resembling bamboo, while the ornamental foliage begonias have multicolored leaf blades. The characteristics of the others can be discerned from their names. However, the name "cane" rather than "shrubby" has become more common.

Deciduous

The most popular of these begonia species is the Rex or Royal begonia. It is a perennial. Colloquially, it is called Napoleon's ears or elephant ears. The plant is undemanding and easy to care for. The stem can reach 1.5 meters in height, but over time, it develops a rhizome—a creeping rhizome from which roots later emerge. When propagating, it is often divided into several sections.

Rex begonias don't produce flowers—their decorative qualities come from their leaves. They're covered in short, light hairs, velvety to the touch, with vibrant crimson or purple veins. They can be fringed, curled, or covered in vibrant patterns.

Begonia Griffon is a cultivar developed from the Royal Begonia. It is a tall, ornamental plant with a thick, creeping stem and fan-shaped leaves with distinct, serrated edges. It is planted in conservatories or outdoors in warmer climates.

Begonia Baueriana is a collective name for ornamental plants grown specifically for apartments. This group includes Nigramarga, Tiger, and Cleopatra. They differ in the lacy texture of their leaf blades, the richness of their color, and the arrangement of their inclusions. The reddish stems reach up to 10 cm in height, and the creeping roots are fleshy and tinged with crimson. The inflorescences are racemose, light pink or cream. The heart-shaped leaves have clearly defined veins and light-colored hairs.

Another deciduous plant is the Lucifer begonia. The underside of its large, asymmetrical leaves is red, while the top is green. The bush grows tall, with erect stems reaching up to 2 meters in height. It blooms from January to early March, with foamy pink petals. It is propagated by cuttings or seeds.

Tuberous

They are grown as annuals in gardens and perennials indoors. The main difference is the shape of the rhizome. The stems are short—up to 0.8 m—and fleshy, succulent, translucent, often with a pinkish tint. This group includes shrubby, trailing, and herbaceous begonias. The leaves are heart-shaped, smooth and corrugated, and can be covered with hairs. Descriptions of the most popular varieties, names with photos:

1. Duck Red is a low shrub with large, bright emerald leaves, single, large, double flowers—up to 10 cm—that look like a peony;
2. Bud de Rose - resembles a rose in appearance, the bush is low, no more than 15 - 17 cm, the leaves are large, with wavy outlines, the petals are white or light pink;
3. Picotee Harlequin is a double begonia with yellow petals edged with red; a semi-spreading shrub growing up to 0.25 m, with small bright green leaves;
4. Crispa Marginata is a houseplant with purple edges on green leaves, reaching 15 cm; inflorescences are single, delicate, white, lemon or light yellow.

The most common begonia is the Odorata, commonly known as Angelica. Its large, single, double blooms, up to 9 cm in diameter, are captivating not only for their lushness and colorfulness—the inner petals are white, the outer petals pink—but also for their fragrance. This is a distinctive feature of this variety. The stems reach up to 20 cm in height, with shoots that initially grow upward, then arch and droop gracefully. The leaves are dark green, with sharply serrated edges.

The trailing Bolivian begonia has drooping stems. The shoots grow up to 30 cm and then arch downwards. This is why these subspecies are often planted in pots to highlight their distinctive features. Santa Cruz Sunset and Copacabana will delight you with their bright red buds gathered in inflorescences. The latter plant has uniquely shaped flowers reminiscent of bells. Bossa Nova, meanwhile, delights with a variety of shades—orange, pink, white, and fuchsia. This is the largest subspecies, with arching stems reaching 50 cm.

This group also includes trailing varieties with brightly colored flowers and drooping stems. They bloom for a long time—they can be enjoyed indoors from late March to mid-November. The most common is the Chanson series, with double blooms, and is most commonly grown:

• Christie - white flowers;
• Roxana - orange;
• Girl - pale pink.

An ideal choice for an apartment is the trailing, ever-blooming begonia Elatior. It's a low, compact shrub with heart-shaped, glossy leaves and fleshy stems. The stems are covered in delicate fuzz. The flowers resemble small roses. They can be yellow, pink, red, orange, with white highlights, or solid colors.

Everblooming

Plants of this species are grown indoors and in winter gardens. This group includes trailing varieties and species with various rhizome shapes. They share a common feature: long flowering, not year-round, but from late February to mid-December.

The most popular dwarf varieties with a description of the most characteristic differences:

1. Bella – single stems with green leaves edged in bright red. The flowers are large, double, and bright pink. Up to 160 buds can be counted at bloom time.
2. Compact Sheila, with stems up to 16 cm, is similar in appearance to Bella, but has fewer inflorescences—up to 80 at a time—and the petals are bright red.
3. Linda is the smallest of these varieties. The bush is compact, the leaves are outlined with a bright border, and the flowers are large, single, pink. The plant grows to a maximum height of 9 cm.

Medium-sized subspecies are represented by bushes with vibrant leaves, reaching 25 cm. The most commonly planted are Carmen, with its dark crimson leaf blades and small pink flowers; the emerald-green, vibrant Ambassador, with flowers that form a lush cap, ranging in color from light pink to bright red; and the lush, rich green Bada Bing, with its bright red inflorescences.

Tall plants are used to decorate flowerbeds and winter gardens. In open ground or greenhouses, stems can reach up to 1 m, but indoors they don't exceed 40 cm. The bushes are spreading, the stems grow loosely, and the flowers are usually single. Typical representatives include 'Kate Teicher' with red flowers; 'Double Red' with purple, double flowers; 'Alba' with white flowers; and 'Gustav Knaake' with crimson flowers. Slightly different is the compact 'Renaissance' with emerald leaves and distinctly serrated edges. The orange petals also have wavy outlines.

Cane Begonias

A characteristic feature of these ornamental plants is their erect, stiff stems, reminiscent of reeds. Representatives of this group were previously called Angel's Wing for their pointed leaves. Most hybrids were artificially developed by crossing shrubby begonias with the founder variety, Rex.

Coralina de Lecorella is most often seen in offices. It grows to 2 m tall, with ovate leaves up to 20 cm long, covered in whitish or silvery spots and streaks with a reddish underside. The flower stalks are elongated and reddish-pink.

Coral begonia was previously considered a separate species, but is now classified under the name spotted begonia, a group of reed begonias. Tamaya and Luceria are most commonly planted. The buds are gathered in large clusters and bloom throughout the summer.

A white-painted variety, Begonia x albopicta, was created from the spotted begonia. This perennial grows 1–1.5 m tall, with asymmetrical, glossy, olive-green leaves on the upper side and velvety on the underside. Flowering is short-lived, lasting only two months—from late June to early August. The petals are white and pink.

Spotted begonia is found wild in Brazil. It is a lush subshrub, forming a crown up to 1 m in diameter. The leaves are lanceolate, elongated, with wavy edges, and are dark green. Pink flowers form umbel-shaped racemes, opening from April to July.

The most difficult thing is to germinate seeds, so it is better for novice gardeners to start with varieties that are propagated by part of the root or shoots. Caring for plants is extremely simple.Water as needed, loosen the top layer of soil to ensure consistent air access to the root system, fertilize, and protect against pests and diseases. At home, annual repotting is required.