Although they have a reputation for being finicky and hard to grow because they require high humidity, a warm microclimate and a meticulous watering routine, Begonia rex hybrids' love of filtered light makes them ideal house plants. They are highly prized for their vivid textured foliage and are most often grown as indoor plants or greenhouse container specimens. The Rex Begonia varieties we know today are all hybridised descendants of that stowaway. The arrival of the first Rex Begonia in the West was a happy accident it was unintentionally transported with a collection of orchids sent to Europe from Assam in northeast India in 1856. If you decide to experiment, remember to wear gloves, keep your dye pots separate from your food pots and work in well-ventilated spaces.īegonia rex – the king of potted plants Syn. In the hard to find Dyes from Plants of Australia and New Zealand (1971), Joyce Lloyd says scarlet Begonia flowers yield a bright pink when mordanted with alum. If you’re always wondering what other uses you can put your plants to, oxalic acid is a mordant used to fix plant dyes, so there’s potential for your Begonias to yield even more joy and colour when you prune or uproot them at the end of the season. They have however adapted to produce high levels of oxalic acid to protect themselves from insects and herbivores, so please make sure to check that yours is edible before you nip out to the garden to forage a salad and consume your Begonia in moderation. Yes! The rumour is true, First Nations Peoples have been using Begonias in their plant medicines for thousands of years, and the leaves and flowers of some species are edible too. They are grown for both their foliage and their flowers. They now grow year-round and are prized for their bloomsĬane: Cane Begonias have long stems with swollen nodes that resemble bamboo. Some of them die back in winter and emerge from their tubers again in SpringĮlatior: This Begonia type is the result of cross-breeding experiments with winter flowering species’ that could be grown indoors in the early 1900s. Tuberous: Tuberous Begonias have been bred to have large, eye-catching flowers. They are ideal in hanging baskets because of their trailing habit and will also grow up posts and trellis’ with a bit of help. Trailing: These Begonias are grown as ground covers and climbing plants. They do not flower often, need more room, like more light and have deeper roots than other Begonia types. Thick-stemmed: One of the lesser-known varieties, if you like foliage and branches they may be the plant for you. Shrub: This group branches often, has a low-growing habit and interesting foliage which may be hairy or velvety Semperflorens: One of the Begonias that can be eaten raw, Semperflorens are used as bedding plants because of their abundance of flowers Rex: Rex Begonias are a type of Rhizomatous Begonia grown for their dramatic, multi-coloured foliage Rhizomatous: Compact and grown for their highly patterned and textured leaves and stems, Rhizomatous Begonias grow from a ground-stem or rhizome Their differing habits offer many and varied blooms, some of which are lightly fragranced, and striking foliage that is often textured, which makes them an exciting plant for home gardeners who want to get to know a single plant family. Begonia varieties have been separated into nine distinct sub-groups to make them easier to describe. Begonia is both the common name and the botanical name for all members of the genus.
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