Fragrant begonia collection
begonia collection
- 1 × collection | 3 tubers
- £14.95 £4.98 each
- available to order from winter
- 2 + 1 FREE collections | 9 tubers
- £29.90 £3.32 each
- available to order from winter
Delivery options
- Bulbs (only) £4.99
- Position: Full sun or partial shade
- Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Average to fast
- Flowering period: May to October
- Hardiness: Tender (will need frost protection)
The pendulous begonias in this collection have been grown for their scented flowers, which appear for several months from midsummer. Perfect for adding colour to hanging baskets and seasonal bedding displays, they will need to be kept in frost-free conditions and overwintered under glass. From late winter, the tubers can be potted up individually, with the indented side uppermost, gently pushing them into the surface of a good quality potting mix. When planting up hanging baskets, allow 3 tubers for each 12” basket. Immediately after potting, water well and then grow them on in bright, frost-free conditions, watering only when the compost gets quite dry. Move them outside after all risk of frost has passed and, while they are actively growing, water more frequently and feed them with a balanced liquid fertiliser.
In each collection you will receive 1 tuber each of:
- Begonia odorata 'Red Glory': Glossy, heart-shaped, dark green leaves clothe the lax, somewhat succulent stems of this showy perennial, acting as a wonderful foil for the clear red flowers. Mix them with orange and yellow for a fiery display, or tone them down with rich purple shades. Grows to 18cm high.
- Begonia odorata 'Mothers Day': Each double white flower has a faint pink blush, which is more pronounced on the outermost petals. Forming an arching cascade of colour, it will add long-lasting colour to a partially shaded spot, particularly if the spent flowers are deadheaded regularly. Grows to 18cm high.
- Begonia odorata 'Pink Flamingo': Large, many-petalled flowers appear in abundance, filling the surrounding air with their sweet perfume. For best effect plant them in a sheltered position near an entrance or seating area. Their rich colouring makes them easy to place in mixed planting schemes. Grows to 18cm high.
Pot up in early spring when the growth can be seen emerging from the tubers. Begonias are tender so must be protected by frosts, however you can pot them up and grow them on under glass from January onwards. The indented side of the tuber is the top, and this should just be covered by a fine layer of compost. Water well and keep them in a bright, warm spot, watering again only when the soil becomes quite dry. Once they are actively growing they can be watered more regularly, especially those growing in sunnier positions, but make sure that the compost or soil is never overly wet or waterlogged. During the growing season they can be fed with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Begonias grown in the ground should be lifted before the first hard frosts and left to die back before being stored in a well ventilated, dry place over the winter. Container-grown plants should be brought under cover during winter and 'potted on' into a slightly larger container each year in spring.
- Humans/Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten
