Bold brash and showy are just some of the adjectives attached to Begonias.

1.Begonia tubers for super flower heads and potted plants

These plants can have massive blooms and or large numbers of blooms on the same plant. They can be used in pots and containers or used for bedding.

There are new varieties being launched regularly. This year Thompson Morgan are selling a scented variety in pastel shade

2.Begonias fibrous roots for annual display

I like the red, white and pink flowers that grow on bedding begonias grown from seed. They have strong coloured leaves either dark red of lime green. They grow well in some shade and last until the first frost.

New varieties in the area include ‘Apricot Shades’ a trailing variety that I am trying for the first time this year.

3.Begonia Rex varieties with coloured or odd Shaped Leaves.

These display plants are grown for the leaf shape, texture and colour. They are used for Houseplants in the conservatory, greenhouse or home. There is often a number of colours mixed in swirls to create an individual looking plant that is very distinctive.

Because of their showy flowers and many species, innumerable Begonia cultivars are grown for our parks and gardens. The genus is unusual in that species throughout the genus can frequently be hybridized with each other and this has led to an enormous number of hybrids and cultivars. Indeed there are new offerings most seasons and Apricot Shades the variety above is still comparatively new.

Begonia Apricot Shades

• These begonias will perform whatever the weather. Fill your hanging baskets and patio pots with their radiant sunine shades.
• These Begonias abundance of 2½-4 inch extra large and mostly double flowers are very showy in apricot and orange hues.
• Begonia Apricot Shades will carry on blooming right through hot or cold, wet or dry summers and well into the autumn according to Thompson Morgan.
• I used them at the front of a mixed border as they are low growing at 12 inches high.
• I have saved the small corms for this year and I will be starting them off indoors in purchased compost this week.

Read more about UK tuberous begonias

Begonia Seeds – Semperflorens

• I find Begonia seeds very fine, few in number per packet and a poor return for the time and investment.
• For bedding out I buy small pots of plants and prick them out. If I am too late I buy plug plants which are a bit more expensive but get away into growth more rapidly.
• These begonia have green leaved and red leaved varieties or you can buy mixtures. The flowers are light pink to red and do not currently have the yellow shades of the tuberous varieties.

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