Top 20 Types of Begonia Plants to Cheer You up Everyday
Begonia needs no introduction, we all must have seen these plants at least once in our life. But do you know that there are more than 1500 types of begonia plants in this world?
Among these charming plant species, in hanging baskets, in pots, and on the edges of the garden, there are a few that are edible too with a citrusy taste, like the bulbous and wax begonia. They are known to be rich in vitamin D and many other essential nutrients.
Arborists love this plant for its mass flowering and foliage beauty. Begonia plants are perennial but preferred to be grown as annuals during the spring season. Begonia is one of the easiest plants to propagate. You can save its bulb for next season, and multiply them through cuttings as well. But if you are planning to grow them through seeds, Well, begonia has one of the smallest seeds known, and an ounce of its seeds can produce about three million seedlings.
Begonia is not only beautiful but hardy too. It can tolerate drought due to its succulent-like properties but needs extra care in areas receiving freezing frost. Its adaptation in different geographical regions has also made significance in different cultures of this world. In European countries, gifting Begonia symbolises ‘Be Cautious’. And Kimjongilia cultivar of Begonia symbolises the floral emblem of North Korea. It was also known that warriors used this plant for polishing their swords too. Now doesn’t this fact make Begonia a historical plant?
There are too many historical and cultural values we have discussed so far. Apart from its classification in terms of its root types, in this article, you will learn about the types of begonia that could be useful to you in one way or another.
ALSO READ: 15 Different Types of Holly Bushes
Types of Begonia Plants
1. Richmond
It is one of the constantly blooming begonias. It responds to light vividly, showing colour variation from bronze to green. The underside of its leaves is red and gives an appealing look to its whole shrub-like structure. It has fibrous roots and thrives best in partial shady conditions.
| Common Name | Richmond Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-12 |
| Height | 18-24 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
2. Ambassador Series
These Begonia Plants are available in shades of red, white and pink. They are a great choice for bedding purposes. It can tolerate drought and show excellent results in partial shade. It has thick, fleshy, green leaves with serrations. They need little watering and have fibrous roots. It’s best to keep it towards a south-facing window if planted indoors.
| Common Name | Ambassador Series Begonias |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-12 |
| Height | 8-12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
3. Torch Pink Begonia
It looks a lot different than the other begonias. It appears more like a bush with leaves being comparatively smoother and narrower. The bright pink flowers of this plant depend upon the amount of sunlight it receives. These flowers grow on an outwardly grown stem. It needs heavy pruning and the spreading nature of this plant should be maintained carefully.
| Common Name | Torch Pink Begonia, Angel-leaved Begonia. |
| Scientific Name | Begonia aconitifolia × Begonia coccinea |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-12 |
| Height | Upto 18 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
4. Rex Begonia
Rex is the most stunning foliage beauty among begonia species. The flowers are rarely seen and the leaves are ovate and serrated with paintbrush-like strokes of pink, white or green. Some famous varieties of rex begonia are Fairy, Red Kiss, Pink Charming, and Silver Queen. People grow these species as a perennial plant in pots. The drama in the pattern of its leaves leaves people astonished. It has rhizomes that you could use for propagation next season. It is best to grow these plants indoors.
| Common Name | Rex Begonia, Painted Begonias. |
| Scientific Name | Begonia rex var. |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-11 |
| Height | 11-28 inches |
| Sunlight | Bright filtered light |
5. Polka Dott Begonia
As the name suggests, the leaves of Polka Dott Begonia plants have white spot-like patterns. It is easy to identify the plant. Polka dott begonias can tolerate a high temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The underside of the leaves is orange, the same as that of its flowers, which grow on a stalk.
| Common Name | Polka Dott Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia maculat |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-11 |
| Height | 24-36 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
6. Double Up White
The size of its white flower is really small. There are other pink and red shades available too. It has fibrous roots and dark green leaves that are slightly red on the underside. The flowers appear to be a doublet, like small balls of cotton. The stem of the whole plant is pink which compliments the overall beauty of the Begonia plant.
| Common Name | Double Up White Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-11 |
| Height | Upto 12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
7. Cocktail
There are multiple shades of cocktail Begonia plants available in the market. These are bushier, small heighted plants with dark bronze leaves, which makes them better for absorbing heat. It is excellent to use these plants for bedding purposes. It has fibrous roots and grows rapidly.
| Common Name | Cocktail Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-11 |
| Height | 6-8 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
8. Mocca Yellow Begonia
Yellow Begonia plants are rare and look gorgeous as a houseplant. It has pointed and slightly thinner leaves as compared to other species. It is a good plant for hot and humid places. It has tuberous roots. Mocca Yellow Begonia needs special care from its growth to flowering.
| Common Name | Mocca Yellow Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia × tuberhybrida |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-12 |
| Height | 8-12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
9. Bedding Begonia
Its pastel-coloured flowers make it unique and white spotted leaves are another of its ornamental characteristics. It is short in height which makes it suitable for potting purposes. Though it is known to have beautiful colours, the intensity of its colour depends upon the amount of sunlight it receives in a day.
| Common Name | Bedding Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 10-12 |
| Height | Upto 8 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
10. Dusty Rose
The flowers of this begonia plant appear like roses that bloom in September and emerge at the end of the stem. The leaves are fleshy and dark green with serrations. It will also need specific placement care during its bloom. These need more sunlight as compared to other species. It is tuberous, so you can save them for next season and propagate easily.
| Common Name | Rose Begonia, Solenia Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia × tuberhybrida |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 9-11 |
| Height | 12-18 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
11. Flona Red Begonia
‘Flona red’ bears scarlet red flowers with yellow eyes. It is a semi-double type of flower, which is easy to propagate and best for edging purposes. Its leaves are fleshy and bronze. This Begonia plant can also be used in pots.
| Common Name | Flona Red |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 9-11 |
| Height | Upto 12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
12. Victory Rose Begonia
The blooms of victory rose are white inwards and red at the margins with yellow eyes. They may flower the whole season. Its leaves are bronze to green with a special shiny texture.The mass flowering habit of this plant can be utilised for bedding purposes. It’s best to keep them near an east-west window. It also grows bulbs.
| Common Name | Victory Rose Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens victory rose |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 9-11 |
| Height | Upto 8 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
13. On Top Fandango
Top Fandango has baby pink blooms and double-type flowers. It has many double-type flowers with several petals. It would be best to grow these Begonia plants alongside other contrasting flowers. It is the most elegant-looking begonia species with dark green, thin leaves.This type can be best utilised for potting purposes and indoor decor.
| Common Name | On Top Fandango |
| Scientific Name | Begonia x tuberosa. |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 8-11 |
| Height | Upto 12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
14. Solenia Salmon Coral
It flowers profusely. The mass orange hues of these plants are mesmerising. The blooms on these flowers are of different sizes with thick petals and amazing adaptable habits. It can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. This type of begonia plant is also available in pink shades. It could be used for bedding and edging purposes. It shall be watered according to where it is kept. The size of the plant can be maintained with slight pruning.
| Common Name | Solenia Salmon Coral |
| Scientific Name | Begonia elatior |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 9-11 |
| Height | Upto 12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly and full sunlight |
15. Nonstop Fire
It is the most fascinating cultivar with no fixed blossom type. Sometimes the blooms are single, sometimes they are double with a wide range of colour combinations in pink, yellow, red and white. It is a good competitor for roses and all the other species of flowers. They look great when planted in a mass. The different colour combinations of this begonia plant can have a huge impact on your garden.
| Common Name | Nonstop Fire Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia x tuberhybrida |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 9-11 |
| Height | Upto 12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
16. Prima Donna Sunburst
It has huge flowers with yellow petals and orange or red edges. The lemonade yellow flowers give a bursting effect and the waviness in their petals brings a lot of drama. There is no way these begonia plants could be unnoticeable when kept anywhere in the garden or inside the houses.
| Common Name | Prima Donna Sunburst |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 3-10 |
| Height | Upto 12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
17. Pin Up Flame
Pin Up Flame has a pansy-like shape due to its unevenly sized petals, which are yellow in the centre with typical orange margins. These begonia plants are bulbous but don’t flower in mass. To observe more flowers, plant more than one plant closer to each other in the same plant. It is best to use it for hanging baskets or potting purposes.
| Common Name | Pin Up Flame |
| Scientific Name | Begonia x tuberhybrida |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 4-11 |
| Height | 10-12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade, Shade |
18. Amstel Clara
If you have a liking for white roses, then you are going to love this plant. It blooms one of the most elegant flowers you might have ever seen. It is one of the tuberous wax begonia. The flower structure is unique and looks a lot similar to the roses. The green foliage looks common. It is one of the tallest begonia species, hence it will take quite a space in your garden. It also takes less water and needs no deadheading, so a little maintenance is good enough to make its flowers bloom
| Common Name | Amstel Clara |
| Scientific Name | Begonia x hiemalis ‘Amstel Clara |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 5-11 |
| Height | Upto 16 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
19. Hanging Begonia
As the name suggests, these cultivars bloom on a stem that hangs downwards. The flowers are in shades of orange and yellow. Since these are hanging-type beauties, it is not recommended to use them for bedding, potting or edging purposes. It should be planted on the corner of your garden where you can enjoy its hues. Although orange shades are popular, there are other shades available too. These are tuberous, so you can propagate them easily.
| Common Name | Hanging Begonia |
| Scientific Name | Begonia semperflorens species |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 3-10 |
| Height | 10-12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade |
20. Elatior Valentino Pink
These resemble the peonies. With creamy pastel shades, a yellow-white centre, and multiple rounded petals of different sizes, it looks like bouquets growing out of the soil. The leaves are dark green and the margin is yellow. Every part of this plant is ornamental. The blossom colour of these plants also responds according to the intensity of sunlight it receives.
| Common Name | Elatior Valentino Pink,Valentino Pink |
| Scientific Name | Begonia elatior ‘Valentino Pink’ |
| Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zone | 4-11 |
| Height | Upto 12 inches |
| Sunlight | Partly Shade to full sunlight |
Conclusion
Flowers have meanings but no matter what plant you grow, flowering always brings joy and happiness. Many studies say that we can describe the personality of a person through the flowers they like. After all, we only grow the flowers in our garden that suit our lifestyle and best with our taste. In addition, we must accept that there is nothing more pleasant than decorating your house or workplace with flowers. That’s why it becomes necessary to choose a flower that can bring positivity in your life.
To bring you those choices, we listed down different types of Begonia plants, with their unique characteristics. There is no hard and fast rule to grow these beauties, so be patient and try them out today and wait for the blooming results.
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