Begonia multiflora Flamboyant

We are witnessing the revival of one of the first hybrid varieties with the 'Flamboyant' Begonia multiflora. It is quite similar to the original Begonias as discovered in the Andes in Peru and Bolivia in the late 19th century.

Begonias belong to the Begoniaceae family and can be tuberous or rhizomatous. Native to intertropical rainforests, they mainly come from South America but also from Africa or Asia. To put it simply, rhizomatous Begonias are those that continuously grow in the forest and do not experience a dry season. Tuberous Begonias, on the other hand, live in the same areas but at higher altitudes on slightly brighter sites and experience a dry season, causing them to lose their leaves. This is the time for them to produce fruits and replenish their nutrient reserves.

The 'Flamboyant' Begonia multiflora belongs to the category of tuberous plants. It blooms from July to October. It will reach a width of 30cm (12in) and a height of 40cm (16in) at maturity. It inherited the compact habit of its Andean variety ancestor, and it is not trailing. It has deciduous, dark green, alternate, and velvety leaves. The leaf blades are always asymmetrical, and the petioles have stipules at their base. The flower stalks are dark purple. The flowers of this Begonia are a beautiful coral red.

It is a shade plant that will thrive if it gets a few hours of sunlight each day. It appreciates light soils rich in organic matter (well decomposed garden compost) that do not retain moisture. Additionally, it is quite susceptible to powdery mildew and nematodes and requires regular but not excessive watering. Begonias are frost-sensitive, so do not tolerate freezing temperatures. For this reason, it is often grown in containers that can be easily brought indoors to heated greenhouses or under a veranda at the first frost. If it is in the ground, it is time to remove them and store them in a sheltered place until the following spring. In the meantime, it will pair very well with the Trailing Pink 'Belleconia' Begonia, its more modern alter ego, or beautiful orange or red Cannas.