5 great ideas for pairing perennial begonias in shade or partial shade

In an exotic garden

Perennial begonias nestle perfectly into an exotic garden, a jungle garden, and all parts of the garden where beautiful, lush, vigorous plants have been planted, truly exotic. The species Begonia grandis is simply superb, surrounded by other luxuriant foliage, in partial shade conducive to the development of striking exotics. The underside of its leaves, prettily reddened and veined, requires such a border to be planted in partial shade bright enough to enjoy these colours through the foliage.

In this first example, we cluster a handsome mass of Begonia grandis var. evansiana ‘Alba’ with white flowering, alongside Fatsia japonica, appreciated in this dense vegetation for its deeply cut leaves. A purple touch is provided by a spectacular Colocasia ‘Black Magic’, and some late-summer flowering by Tricyrtis ‘Imperial Banner, with cream variegated foliage.

Another hardy begonia, Begonia luxurians (also called palm begonia due to its unique foliage), will add good volume in regions with mild winters. Elsewhere, it can be replaced by Rhapidophyllum hystrix, a hardy palm that tolerates shaded areas.

Begonia grandis ‘Alba’, Fatsia japonica, Tricyrtis ‘Imperial Banner’ Colocasia ‘Black Magic’ and Rhapidophyllym hystrix

In a mass of foliage

A border mass of beautiful ornamental foliage, for its exuberance or for its textures, is another idea that suits the lightness and yet the presence that perennial begonias bring to a shaded garden.
Here, around Begonia grandis a few plants valued for their foliar attributes: ferns delicate, of course, to provide contrast, but also large hostas chosen in bluish tones such as ‘Blue Angel‘, and a Rodgersia pinnata ‘Bronze Peacock’ with lush, vine-like leaves, which in summer will bear tall, airy panicles of vivid pink.
All that remains is to add a few more indispensable stars, such as the leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum), and a Tetrapanax, when space allows. In this profusion of planting, finally consider a few graceful and lighter perennials, beautiful all year round thanks to their changing, often marbled foliage, like the elf flowers, here Epimedium versicolor ‘Cupreum’.

♦ My tip: Also plant some unusual bulbs, those of terrestrial orchids, to enliven the area in mid-spring (Cypripedium calceolus, Bletilla striata ‘Kuchi Beni’, etc.).

Around perennial begonias and ferns, Farfugium japonicum, Hosta ‘Blue Angel’, Epimedium versicolor ‘Cupreum’, Rodgersia pinnata ‘Bronze Peacock’ and Tetrapanax

At the edge of a pond

Here’s a spot where perennial begonias will benefit from a substrate that stays consistently fresh. The banks of a water feature will, in fact, provide the moisture needed for the healthy growth of these perennials.
The key is to select companions that have the same requirements, in terms of exposure—semi-shaded, as here—and soil moisture.
Why not plant a Begonia grandis near a yellow-flag iris such as the charming Iris pseudoacorus ‘Variegata’ with pale-yellow flowering, with a few Astilbes such as the variety ‘Pink Lightning’ and its very delicate and airy inflorescences, pale pink?
You will fill out this pond edge with a few more robust perennials: a Colocasia or, on a large pond or water feature, a Brazilian giant rhubarb (Gunnera manicata), and arums with pure white cone-shaped flowers.
Here too, play with the contrast of a few graceful blooms with orchid primroses, charming with their bi-coloured tufts.

Perennial begonias, arums, Primula vialii, Iris pseudoacorus ‘Variegata’ and Astilbe ‘Pink Lightning’

→ Read also: 5 perennials with XXL foliage and How to plant the margins around a pond?

As a groundcover in a border

Plant perennial begonias along a path! This is another area of the garden where they work wonders, acting as a stately groundcover that drapes with just the right touch. This allows you to truly appreciate their habit, their delicate flowering and their large veined foliage.

For this arrangement, the classic Begonia evansiana or the Begonia ravenii with lighter flowers are ideal.
Plant beside them a few hydrangeas if the path is long, such as the Hydrangea serrata ‘Kiyosumi’, whose bi-colour flowering will harmonise very well with that of the begonias. Some evergreen golden sedges will also punctuate the border: there are hundreds, and here we have chosen the golden Carex lenta, ‘Osaka‘

♦ My tip: plant a few spring bulbs between the begonias, which will fill the area while they reappear in late spring.

Perennial begonias, Hydrangea serrata ‘Kiyosumi’ and Carex lenta ‘Osaka’

In a container garden

Preferring consistently cool soil year-round, perennial begonias can be grown in pots on a terrace, balcony or patio if your garden doesn’t offer such conditions.
They will grow there a little more slowly than in the ground, but will flower just as well with proper care.
Choose other shrubs and perennials that do well in pots, with an equally exotic look to create an almost tropical atmosphere!
It is Begonia x grandis ‘Torsa’ that features in our display for a patio or balcony: hardy to -15°C in a pot, it will reach between 60 and 70 cm in a pot.
They will thrive with it in a partially shaded to shaded position: New Guinea impatiens or balsams to sow from spring, a long-flowering perennial Fuchsia, a heuchera chosen for its two-tone mint-green and purple foliage like the pretty ‘Green Spice’, and a Mexican orange blossom with narrow evergreen leaves and pleasantly fragrant spring flowers, such as ‘Aztec Pearl’.
♦ My tip: choose a pot wide and deep enough for the Begonia to produce a lush mass of leaves and flowers.

Centre: a Begonia grandis ‘Torsa’ accompanied by Heuchera ‘Green Spice’, a Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl’, a balsam and a Fuchsia ‘Deep Purple’

→ Discover our topics: Potscaping or container gardening, the ABC of pot planting, and Which plants for an exotic balcony?