symbolic of a fanciful nature

The begonia is an herb or low shrub in the family Begoniaceae and genus Begonia, with at least 500 species widely scattered in warm countries. Indigenous to Mexico, Central and South America, Asia, and South Africa, it was first introduced into England in 1777, and named in honor of Michel Bégon, a French botanist.

Virtually every type of leaf, flower, stem, and root can be found among the various species and cultivars of begonia. There are fibrous rooted, tuberous, bulbous, and rhizomatous species. The flowers range from white through pink and red to yellow, often long-lasting, and varying greatly in size and form. Some begonias have flowers that are only about 1/4-inch wide, but those flowers may be abundant, while others have fewer flowers that are, however, up to 8 inches across. Many species have beautifully variegated, often metallic-colored leaves. Some species are grown primarily because of their beautiful flowers, while others are grown primarily because of their very interesting leaves. And, of course, there are some varieties that display both beautiful, showy flowers along with colorful leaves.

Because of their ease of culture and wide variety, begonias are a very popular group of ornamental plants. They can be grown in shady corners as border plants, as summer bedding plants, and even as colorful indoor plants.

Scientific Classification

division Magnoliophyta
class Magnoliopsida
order Cucurbitales
family Begoniaceae
genus & species Begonia spp.

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This page was last updated on 06/28/2017.