Begonia is a perennial flowering succulent herbal plant and belongs to Begoniaceae family. There are more than 1,800 species of Begonia. This plant thrives in subtropical and tropical climate. They can be grown both outside and inside.
French botanist Charles Plumier named this genus Begonia in honor of Michel Bégon, a former governor of Haiti. Some of the species are terrestrial and some grown on the ground.
Begonias are divided into following categories:
Cane-like
Shrub-like
Tuberous
Rhizomatous
Semperflorens (wax or fibrous rooted begonias)
Rex
Trailing-scandent
Thick-stemmed
In cooler climates some species are cultivated outside in summertime for their bright colorful flowers, which have sepals but no petals.
The above Begonia was photographed in Agumbe Ghats. They grow in the wild on the slopes of the hills.
The height of the plant also varies from covering the ground to as tall as 3 feet. The leaves range from large to small. Shape of leaves and color also varies. The garden is usually beatified with these plants.
The flower size varies form 1 cm to 10 cm in size. Flowers bloom in white, yellow, pink, and red. The flowers are edible and are used to garnish dishes.
Propagation:
Begonias can be easily grown from cuttings. You can plant them in hanging pots or any other pot. Water when the pot is dry. Do not over-water, as this will cause the stems to rot.
After the flowering season, remove all dead stems and leaves.
