BLOOMING' BEAUTIFUL
IN PREVIOUS articles I have written about the beauty and “wow factor” of leaves in the garden.
Even when the flowers aren’t there, if you have leaf colour, shape and texture you can have an interesting display.
Let me introduce you to the rex begonia. For foliage colour they are hard to beat, although they also have dainty little flowers.
Of course, there are other lovely begonias with wonderful large flowers and there is no reason why you can’t collect them all.
Colours come in virtually every colour of the rainbow except for blue.
The rex begonia leaf can be quite large – up to 30cm wide. They are asymmetric in that one side of the leaf is slightly larger than the other. My favourites have a snail-like curl in them (as in the photo). The metallic colours on some can be quite eye-catching.
Begonia rex-cultorum (its proper name) likes a sheltered shady to semi-shady (but not deep shade) position. They also grow very well in a fernery or inside the house in an area that gets plenty of light.
They are predominantly ground cover plants. If you have a spot in your house where you would like some and there is not enough light, then think about getting some artificial ones – they look quite real these days and, in low light, your friends may not be able to tell the difference.
Rex begonias like a rich, well-drained soil. Wait until the soil nearly dries out before re-watering as they don’t like to have “wet feet”. Too much water will rot the roots; too little will probably kill them, so experiment.
While this all sounds as though they are hard to grow, they aren't if you pay attention to their needs.
Where to get some?
Many nurseries will stock rex begonias in their indoor plant section. The more unusual colours can also be ordered through mail order nurseries.
If you want a particular colour, buy it when you see it – they vary so much you might not find it again. Friends may have these plants so beg a cutting or three because they grow quite easily this way.
