Begonia odorata Sunny Dream - Trailing scented tuberous begonia

Begonia Odorata ‘Sunny Dream’ is a trailing tuberous begonia, renowned for its large double lemon-yellow flowers and its fragrance reminiscent of roses. Its prolonged flowering, from summer until the first frosts, brings a soft, warm light to any setting, even in shade or on overcast days. Compact yet very vigorous, it quickly forms trailing clumps in a hanging basket or large container.

Begonia (Odorata Group) ‘Sunny Dream’ belongs to the Begoniaceae family. It is a "bulbous" plant with deciduous foliage, classified in the group of fragrant tuberous begonias. It forms a compact clump 20 to 40 cm in height in a pot, reaching up to 50–60 cm under good conditions, with a spread of about 30 cm. Its fleshy, brittle stems are initially upright but quickly become arched and slightly trailing, giving it a very decorative, slightly cascading habit. The asymmetrical, rounded to heart-shaped, dark green, slightly glossy leaves create a dense backdrop for the double, 7 to 9 cm in diameter flowers of a bright yellow to lemon-yellow hue washed with salmon at the edges. Flowering renews itself from June to October, even until the first frosts, with a continuous production of flower buds. Plant the flattened tubers in a humus-bearing, rich, loose, and well-drained substrate that remains moist but never waterlogged. This not very hardy (around 0 to –3 °C) begonia is mainly grown in pots or containers; its tubers are overwintered dry and protected from frost.

Begonias saw a resurgence of interest around the year 2000 with the introduction of fragrant varieties to the market, a quality that had been neglected in modern selections. Begonia Odorata 'Sunny Dream' is usually grown in hanging baskets or large bowls, on a slightly shaded balcony sheltered from the wind. It is unrivalled for brightening up a balcony with its luminous yellow flowers and continuous flowering. Pair it with decorative foliage plants like Coleus Copinto Long Island Ice Tea, Hypoestes with white-speckled foliage such as Hippo White, or Impatiens SunPatiens Vigorous Clear White. In a large hanging basket, you can also combine several cultivars from the Odorata group, such as Pink Delight, White, or Angelique, to vary the colours while maintaining the same concept of a fragrant cascade.