Begonia × tuberhybrida
Tuberosa Group · John Seden, 1870, United Kingdom (early hybrid milestone)
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Tuberosa Group
- Height × spread: 12-18 in × 12-18 in (30-45 cm × 30-45 cm)
- Bloom window: July to September
- Color & flower form: White, yellow, orange, pink, red; single to double; upright and trailing forms
- Fragrance: 0 none
- USDA hardiness: zones 9-11; grown as annual elsewhere
- Breeder / Year / Origin: John Seden, 1870, United Kingdom (early hybrid milestone)
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Forms underground tubers and enters dormancy after frost.
- Produces larger and more elaborate blooms than most Begonia groups.
- Prefers cool summers and bright shade; less tolerant of full sun.
- Includes cascading selections for baskets as well as upright types.
Strengths
- Spectacular flowers and wide color range.
- Excellent for shaded containers and hanging baskets.
- Long bloom with steady feeding and deadheading.
Care in one minute
Site: bright, indirect light to dappled shade; avoid strong midday sun.
Soil and pH: rich, well‑drained mix; neutral to slightly acidic.
Water: keep evenly moist; avoid wetting flowers and foliage.
Feeding: apply a balanced fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks in growth.
Grooming: pinch lightly early for branching; remove spent blooms.
Overwintering: after frost, dry and store tubers in a cool, frost‑free place until late winter.
Watch‑outs
- Tubers rot in wet or poorly drained media.
- Susceptible to botrytis and powdery mildew in humid, stagnant air.
- Brittle stems; protect from wind and heavy rain.
- Frost kills top growth; lift tubers before hard freezes.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Modern tuberous begonias descend from crosses among Andean species such as Begonia boliviensis, B. veitchii and B. pearcei. One early landmark hybrid, Begonia × sedenii, was raised by John Seden at Veitch Nurseries and distributed in 1870.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Begonia (Tuberosa Group)
- RHS – Begonias outdoors (tuberous section)
- Wikimedia scan – The Tuberous Begonia: Its History and Cultivation (1888)
- ASPCA – Begonia (toxicity)
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