Begonia x tuberhybrida Yellow-Red

The Yellow-Red Marginated Crisped Begonia is a compact and floriferous variety, with large fringed flowers, yellow with red edges, bringing a cheerful atmosphere to planters and flower beds throughout the beautiful season. This tuberous begonia is a small, round plant, remarkably colourful, dressed in ample foliage of a beautiful bright green, and easy to grow for a sensational effect in partial shade. A variety that stands out in semi-shaded areas, in a large pot on the terrace or in a well-maintained flower bed. Continuous flowering from June to October.

The Yellow-Red Marginated Crisped Begonia belongs to the Begoniaceae family, it is part of the tuberous hybrid begonias whose parents are mainly native to the Andean tropical forests. It is a recent cultivar, with a compact habit in a bushy clump. It will reach a height and spread of about 30cm (12in) when mature. Its flowers, with a minimum diameter of 7-8cm (3in), are simple, well-opened, bicolour, with petals that are crinkled, undulated, intensely fringed and intricately bordered, displaying a superb yellow colour finely margined with red. The flower's center is occupied by a group of golden-yellow stamens. Its leaves, deciduous, are thick, glossy, alternate, with heavily serrated edges, of a fairly dark, vibrant green, and traversed by lighter visible veins. The laminae are always asymmetrical and fleshy in texture; the petioles have stipules at their base. The stems of this begonia are thick, fleshy, and brittle. After flowering, which extends from June to October without interruption, the plant goes into dormancy. The tubers will be cultivated like those of Dahlias.

Begonias are unrivalled in bringing colour to shaded areas. They are also comfortable in well-maintained flower beds, alongside lighter flowers such as lobelias or forget-me-nots, as well as when grown in pots on the terrace or in hanging baskets with nemesis or small grasses (Stipa pennata, Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'), for example. This unusual variety will be perfectly enhanced by the silver foliage of Dichondra 'Silver Falls', the tiny blue flowers of lobelias, in large pots in the winter garden or in the veranda. Finally, it is good to know that there are hardy begonias, like Begonia grandis.