begonia types
The Different Types
of Begonias Page 
 Canes:
Cane begonias have been popular plants for many years and
were probably grown by your Grandmother who called them "Angel Wing"
begonias. Many types have been created since then and those grown by your
Grandmother are probably still in cultivation. There are several types
of canes in varying sizes but they all have in common tough stems that
have a bamboo appearance, which gives them the cane handle. The superba
canes generally grow the largest and can have leaves up to about 14 inches
long and can grow to 12 feet high. They are usually kept smaller and more
compact than that though. They have leaves that are cut and most types
have silver spots or splashes on them. They have large flower clusters
and some are fragrant. They are most popular in the southern states where
they are grown outdoors in frost free areas but can also be grown quite
well indoors or in a greenhouse. Two begonia hybridizers, Irene Nuss and
Belva Kusler created many of the first superbas to become popular, and
Irene's hybrid B.'Irene Nuss' and Belva's B.'Sophie Cecile' are the two
most widely circulated superbas of all time. The other most popular type
of cane is the type formally called "angel wing" begonias. These
come in every size from types commonly grown in baskets to large upright
plants but all have the familiar pointed leaf shape that gave them their
former common name. This type is still widely grown and many new hybrids
are created every year. Many have silver spotted/splashed leaves and some
have different serrated edges. Most are heavy bloomers, some even everbloomers.
There are other types which fall somewhere between the two types mentioned
above and there is also the mallet type canes. These are not as widely
grown because they are more tender. They have leaves in various colors,
most purple, pink or white. They are spectacular looking.
 Shrubs:
The shrub
type (this is a link to a page on shrub begonias) is
also very variable and can range in size from miniatures to giants 12 feet
tall. Some varieties have leaves up to 24 inches long under perfect conditions.
The leaf surface is also variable and some have smooth shiny leaves and
other types have hairy or felted leaves. This type gets its name from the
way it grows with many shoots coming up from the soil to make a full plant
like any other shrub you would grow. They are very multi-stemmed. Most
varieties do not bloom as often or as heavily as the cane type but there
are many that are ever blooming and are used as bedding plants across the
country. The shrub type is grown mostly for it's ease of growing, interesting
leaves, and full growth. Most shrubs have white flowers but there are plenty
of pink and red ones also, and many have hairy flowers.
 Rhizomatous:
The rhizomatous types are grown mostly for their interesting leaves and
compact growth but they have the added bonus of a massive display of flowers,
usually in the spring, that cover the whole plant. Most are spring blooming
but there are a few that bloom all year. They range in size from tiny miniature
to large plants like B.'Freddie' that can have 3 foot leaves under optimum
conditions (one growing outdoors in Hawaii grew that large). The
plants can also grow very large across but don't reach great heighth, because
they grow from rhizomes that creep along the ground, which gives this type
its name. The rhizomatous types are popular all across the country and
one in particular B.'Erythrophylla' was probably grown by your Grandmother,
who called it a beef steak begonia because of it's large round leaves.
(I know I've said grown by your Grandmother several times but I don't want
to give you the impression that begonias are only grown by grandmothers,
I only want to reaquaint you with past memories and give you an idea of
how long begonias have been around) Some types of rhizomatous have intricate
patterns on their leaves in almost any earthtone color, some are hairy
leaved, some are round and shiny, and some are star shaped. There is really
no end to the variety of leaf shape, color and texture in this type of
begonia, there is something for every taste.
 Semperflorens:
This type of begonia is probably the most widely grown begonia
and in some parts of the country is called "wax type" because
of the waxy look to the leaves. These begonias are grown mostly as bedding
plants and annuals but are really a perennial shrub type of begonia in
areas that don't freeze. All have round leaves and are everblooming and
the flowers come in every shade of red, pink and white. The leaves come
mostly in two colors, green and bronze, but there are variegated types
such as B. `Charm' and calla types with new leaves that come out white.
The flowers come in single and double types. Some of the specie semperflorens
have felted white or brown leaves.
 Tuberous:
The tuberous type of begonia is also very popular around the world
as a bedding plant and also as a greenhouse plant. In some countries such
as England it is the main type grown. The tuberous types are grown for
theirflowers although there
are a few varieties and species which have interesting leaves and growth.
The flower size can range from small 1/2 inch flowers to the large exhibition
types that can have flowers the size of dinner plates. The flowers range
in type from singles to full doubles and come in every color exept shades
of blue. There are even flowers with different color edges and some are
scented. The plant types range from trailing types that are grown in hanging
baskets with pendulant flowers to sturdy upright plants. The tuberous types
grow from tubers and go dormant during short days during the fall and winter.
They are restarted in the spring. Another related type is the semi-tuberous
which don't have a tuber but which have form a caudex at the base. This
caudex is like a large swollen stem from which many smaller stems grow.
Most semi-tuberous have small leaves and small white flowers, but at least
a couple are pink. They make almost a natural bonzai with their swollen
base and small stems and leaves.
 Rex
Cultorum: Rex
begonias are the showboats of the begonia world and are a type of rhizomatous
begonia that are grown for their multicolored leaves. Their leaves come
in every color, pattern and shade, and every size and shape. All Rex Culturum
types are descended from the Indian specie B. rex that was crossed with
other tyes of rhizomatous begonias. Rex begonias do bloom but are not grown
for their blooms which pale in comparison to their spectacular leaves.
 Trailing/Scandent:
The trailing type of begonia are grown mostly for their trailing
habit but put on a spectacular show of flowers, usually in the spring.
Some of the newer varieties have a longer blooming period or are everblooming.
Most have glossy leaves and look like a philodendron, but their are types
that get large leaves and will climb. In their native habitat these types
will climb up the trunks of trees. Most of the trailing types have white
or pink flowers.
 Thick-stemmed:
The thick-stemmed types are not as widely grown but come in various forms.
The common factor between them is their very thick stems. Most thick-stemmed
types don't branch much but send up new growth from the base. They also
show off the thick stems because they drop their lower leaves and usually
only have leaves on the tips. These can be very attractive and are definitely
unusual if you're looking for something different to grow.
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