Hi,
I bought a pair of beautiful begonia's for myself for mother's day at a local farmer's market. The person selling them had them listed as a hardy begonia. Do you know, does this mean they do not need to be wintered indoors?
I have no idea what variety they are. I can take a picture and post it if you think it will help. The stock is pretty thick, which makes me think it has not been cut back for wintering...
Hardy Begonia - Just how hardy is it?
A picture is always good to make sure we all are talking about the same plant. I wonder if it s Begonia grandis. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/722/
I had a couple of these and had forgotten about them till this minute. I wonder where they went. Heaven I guess. They are known for easy reseeding and can come up all over. They also die back in winter to come back in spring. Unless they live here where I kill them evidently. Not so hardy! LOL
Hi,
I had forgotten my Begonia grandis last winter outdoors in a pot the first time, zone 7b in Europe.
It came back very late, but survived. And now there are flower stalks too. This must be the global warming but you never can be sure, that winter is not too harsh.
Here's a couple photos of it... lemme know what you think it is and also if you think it is truly "hardy" by definition and can be left out over the winter.
Close up...
that looks like a tuberous begonia one of the begonia boliviensis. Not sure which one. they are rated 7b-8a zones but break dormancy late. Not sure about very wet conditions though.
Thanks lavendar4ever! That's very helpful information!
It is a very pretty and unusual begonia. Purchased one myself this year.
I was talking about B. bolivensis the other hay on here.
There are 2 recentthreads on your begonia, Lazy.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/893347/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/735103/
I just love these begonias.
Cool, sorry to bring this one back to the top, but I'm thinking its the Bonfire. It looks a lot like that last link you provided Kell.
If it is tuberous, are you thinking that it is in fact hardy for 8a weather? The stalk is so large on it, it seems that it hasn't died off each year prior. These plants are so gorgeous, I just don't want to kill them.
If its moisture to be worried about, I could put them in my garden shed, it has a western facing window, but NO insulation. So it'd keep them dry, but not warm.
Any additional thoughts?
Thanks!
Kristin
Sorry, I just opened this thread again. I have so many in my thread watcher, I never keep up.
I hope your begonia is doing well. I see PlantFiles says good to 9B. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/160830/
Mine did great with no water all last winter long. It was completely dormant. Got huge this last year when it regrew. The stems were so fat and succulent. I am a bit worried this winter for I had my husband move the huge flower pot it was sitting on top of in its own pot and he tore off all the stems. How he could not notice a huge pot sitting there full of growth!