Begonia multiflora Richard Galle

Begonia multiflora 'Richard Galle' is an old hybrid variety that deserves to be rediscovered, for its natural charm and the abundance of its flowering in shades of apricot, coppery amber, and amber yellow. Its graceful small flowers, semi-double or sometimes single, carried by red stems, bloom profusely on a well-branched plant with pretty veined foliage. You can place it in a beautiful pottery on the terrace, or even in the front of a flower bed, always in partial shade or even in the shade.

Begonia 'Richard Galle', introduced in Belgium in 1932, 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. Originating from intertropical rainforests, they mainly come from South America but also from Africa or Asia. To put it simply, we can say that 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 that causes them to lose their leaves. This is the time for them to produce fruits and replenish nutrient reserves.

Begonia multiflora 'Richard Galle' belongs to the category of tuberous plants and blooms from June-July to October. The plant, which forms a sort of cushion, reaches a height of about 35cm (14in) and a spread of 40cm (16in) at maturity. It has deciduous foliage, dark green veined with lighter green, velvety. The laminae are always asymmetrical; the petioles have stipules at their base. The flower stalks are red to dark purple. The male flowers of this Begonia are single, with 4 petals, while the female flowers, more spectacular, have additional small petals.

Begonia multiflora is a shade plant that will grow better if it receives a few hours of sunlight per day. It is frost-sensitive and cannot tolerate negative temperatures. For this reason, it is often grown in containers that can be easily brought indoors in greenhouses or under a heated veranda at the first frost. If planted in the ground, it's time to remove the tubers and store them in a dry place until the following spring. You can associate this beautiful 'Richard Galle' variety with other begonias in harmonious colours, as well as with light flowers, white or even blue, such as forget-me-nots or lobelias.