Variegated Hardy Begonia (Begonia grandis varigata)

begoniacrazii Northern California, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 04, 2008

Variegated Hardy Begonia
Begonia grandis varigata

Extremely rare in cultivation, seen at the 60th Anneversary Begonia show, Sacramento 2008.

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killdawabbit Christiana, TN(Zone 6b) Dec 15, 2010

I don't get it. Where's the variegation?

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begoniacrazii Northern California, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 16, 2010

This particular plant was showing very little on the leaves, I've since seen other examples and received a small plant of it this spring with more distinct spots. It has also been renamed B. grandis 'Nanjiang Silver'.

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begoniacrazii Northern California, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 16, 2010

Take a look at this photo of the same plant - You'll see the spots I mentioned

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/225390/

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killdawabbit Christiana, TN(Zone 6b) Dec 16, 2010

I guess I missed one. Does the variegation get stronger when it is planted out in the garden? I would like to have it if so.

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begoniacrazii Northern California, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 17, 2010

I've only grown this one for a short time (my small 2" pot got knocked over by my cat and didn't survive). So I can't comment to weather it get's stronger or not. The baby plant that I had - had much stronger silver dots than the adult plant in the photo.

Also, I know of only one source for this begonia at this time - it's really quite rare in cultivation and relatively new in private cultivation. The vendor listed on this plant file page has B. grandis, NOT Begonia grandis 'Nanjiang Silver' so you won't likely be able to mail order. The one source is a personal friend of mine who has been propagating it on a small basis and provided several to the plant sale at the American Begonia Society convention in August.

You may want to offer to trade for bulbils now on the Yahoo begonia group, the person that has it reads that list and may respond, otherwise you may not be able to easily find it.

Viva Begonias,
Lali