1. Begoniaceae Family By Brenda Lines Introduction Many people recognize the distinctive asymmetrical leaves, fleshy jointed stems and showy flowers of most cultivated begonias. However, looks can be deceiving, since some species do not exhibit any of these features and can only be identified as begonias by a combination of subtle botanical features. These include: alternate stipulate leaves, separate male and female flowers, petal-like sepals, centripetal stamen development, inferior ovaries, and other characteristics. Fascinating, but far too much information……. Lets look at some basics and which beautiful species grow best in Florida. And even better yet…… how to propagate them! Fun Facts Two genera: Begonia with 1400 species and Hillebrandia in Hawai with one species 10,000 cultivated species Grown for beautiful foliage and/or flowers None are native One can be invasive (wax begonia) Usually grown in shade or part shade Love South Florida Begonia Classifications Cane-Like Begonias Rhizomatous Begonias Rex Begonias (Only in pots) Shrub-Like Begonias Semperflorens Begonias (Wax begonias, annual) Thick-Stem Begonias Trailing-Scandent Begonias Tuberous Begonias (Not for Florida) FASCINATING FACT POLLINATION: Separate male and female flowers are on the same begonia plant Only male flowers have pollen and open first Female flowers make no pollen BAIT AND SWITCH: Female flowers stigma look like the male flowers pollen sac! Insects are tricked into transferring pollen from the male flowers to the female! BEGONIA PROPAGATION *Use well drained potting soil CUTTINGS: (Cane begonias) Take five inch end cuttings Remove all lower leaves except 2 or 3 Place one inch into soil Keep moist in shade RHIZOMES (Root cuttings): (For rhizomatous and thick stem) Cut about two inch rhizome Place on top of soil (root side down) Cover bottom half of rhizome with soil Keep moist in shade LEAF : (For rhizomatous, trailing-scandent, shrub like) Remove leaf with about two inch petiole (leaf stem) Place leaf stem about one inch into soil Keep moist in shade NEED MORE INFO? *Contact American Begonia Society at www.begonias.org *Take Plant Propagation Class at PBCC! *TRY IT! ITS FUN AND REWARDING! BEGONIAS FOR FLORIDA *Plant them in the ground! *Add winter and spring color! Mound-forming begonias grown for beautiful foliage and flowers: Begonia odorata alba (white, fragrant flowers) Begonia heracleifolia (pink flowers) Begonia nelumbilifolia (white flowers) Begonia popenoei (white flowers) Begonia Washington State (red flecks of color on light green leaves) Begonia Plum Gorgeous (dark plum leaves) Begonia Caribbean King (easy, beautiful dark leaves) Groundcover creepers or climbers or hanging baskets: Begonia Manaus (white flowers, ground cover) Begonia convolvulacea (shiny green leaves, white flowers, climbs) Begonia Withiacoochee (white flowers, patterned leaves, groundcover or baskets) Cane begonia for the landscape: Begonia coccinea (angel-wing begonia, pink flowers) Male and female flowers Female flowers Male flowers Cane begonia Begonia odorata alba Rhizomatous Begonia coccinea Shrub-like begonia Small Rhizomatous