PLANT LIBRARY

Other Names:  syn. Begonia foliosa var. miniata

Description:

An outstanding begonia with shiny, deep green leaves for a nice texture in the garden; fuchsia-pink blooms with hints of red dangle in clusters along the branches; a great accent plant for the garden or containers

Ornamental Features

Fuchsia Begonia features dainty clusters of fuchsia bell-shaped flowers with pink overtones hanging below the branches from late winter to late fall. Its attractive small glossy oval leaves remain dark green in color throughout the year. The brick red stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Fuchsia Begonia is a multi-stemmed annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Fuchsia Begonia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Fuchsia Begonia will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant should be grown in a location with partial shade or which is shaded from the hot afternoon sun. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

Fuchsia Begonia is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.