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Begonia (Begonia)
While begonias are most recognizable as annual bedding plants, more and more species are being discovered as being winter hardy...at least from Zone 7 south. We think you will enjoy our ever-increasing selection to add color to the shade garden. |
Begonia 'Barbara Rogers' (Barbara Rogers Hardy Begonia)
Part Sun to Shade Zone: 7b-10 36" tall Origin: Hybrid
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Thanks to begoniaphile Rekha Morris for sharing this begonia that she found in the garden of...yes, Barbara Rogers of Anderson, SC. Rekha has tracked this back to Norfolk, VA, but the trail runs cold there. The dark green foliage adorns the upright stems to 3' tall, although Rekha tells me they can reach 5' tall. From early summer until fall, the 3' wide clumps are adorned with large white flowers. We have been unable to determine the parentage, although it undoubtedly shares some B. x semperflorens parentage...very cool!
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06139
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Begonia boliviensis (Bolivian Begonia)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-8, at least 12" tall Origin: Argentina
Seeing these great tuberous begonias hanging from the cliffs in northern Argentina as we drove along in 2002 was, indeed, an incredible experience. The arching stems form a 2' wide clump and are clothed in pointed angel-wing type leaves. At the end of each stem are amazing 2" long bright orange-red bells. In our shaded garden, these have performed wonderfully, drawing raves from all who pass by. These do not emerge from dormancy until June, so chill out. In colder zones, this is an amazing pot or basket plant. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05086
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Begonia chitoensis BSWJ1954 (Hardy Taiwan Begonia)
Light ShadeZone: 7b-10 18" tall Origin: Taiwan
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After several years of trials, we are pleased to offer this collection of the Taiwanense Begonia chitoensis (previously misidentified as B. ravenii). Our plants come from a Crug Farm expedition to the central mountains of Taiwan. The 10" succulent, rounded leaves emerge from a thick rhizome to form a 2' wide x 2' tall clump. The bold-textured clumps are adorned with stalks of pink flowers, starting in late summer. A moist, well-drained woodland soil is preferable.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06092
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Begonia grandis 'Heron's Pirouette' (Hardy Begonia)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 6-9 15" tall Origin: Japan
This Heronswood introduction was made from wild-collected seed from Dan's 1997 expedition to Japan. While the triangular green foliage on the 15" clump is similar to the species, it is the huge and excessively large flower clusters of deep pink that set this selection apart. For us, B. 'Heron's Pirouette' begins flowering in June and continues non-stop until fall. As with the species, it reproduces true from axillary bulbils, so you'll soon have plenty to share. Very easy and very nice! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04820
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Begonia 'Metallic Mist' PPAF, PVR (Metallic Mist Hardy Begonia)
Light ShadeZone: 7b-8, at least 12" tall Origin: Hybrid
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This new Terra Nova hybrid between B. pedatifida and another high elevation Chinese species is publicized as being hardy to Zone 6, but we're only comfortable with Zone 7b. B. 'Metallic Mist' makes a 1' tall x 2' wide clump of lobed silver leaves, highlighted by dark green narrow patterns that follow the bright red veins. The clumps are adorned with pink flowers in late summer, but grow this one for the great foliage!
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07819
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Belamcanda
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Belamcanda chinensis 'Hello Yellow' (Dwarf Blackberry Lily)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 10" tall Origin: Japan
(aka: I. domestica, B. flabellata 'Hello Yellow') This easy-to-grow dwarf blackberry lily is one of those adorable plants that you can't help but love. This iris relative looks more like a dwarf gladiolus in foliage, until it is topped in July with 20" tall spikes of 1" round, buttery yellow flowers, followed by blackberry-like seed pods...a truly great plant for the border or a knockout in a mass planting! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00867
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Belamcanda chinensis Yunnan Form (Blackberry Lily)
SunZone: 5-9 50" tall Origin: China
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With everyone breeding short plants, it's always great to have some tall forms around. We are indebted to plant explorer Paul Jones of Duke Gardens for sharing this exceptional tall form of the wonderful blackberry lily (coll # PJ574-98). Paul's 1998 collection from 2800' in elevation was made near the town of Lidiping in Yunnan, China. In mid-June, the winter deciduous, iris-like rosettes produce 4'+ tall spikes, topped with clusters of 2" tigridia-like flowers...orange (RHS 23A) highlighted with small red flecks and three small white marks at the base of the flower. After flowering, the fruit capsules split open to look like clusters of blackberries. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05376
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Bergenia (Winter Begonia)
While bergenias are quite common in the cooler climates, where they are renowned for their tropical appearance in the woodland garden, their intolerance for heat has left a void in warmer climates. After years of trials, we are able to offer several bergenias that will tolerate both the ravages of a real winter while tolerating the heat and humidity of a real summer. |
Bergenia 'Solar Flare' PPAF, PVR (Solar Flare Winter Begonia)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 4-7, at least 10" tall Origin: Hybrid
NEW!
This stunning new cultivar comes from the Netherlands plantsman Marco Van Noort, who found it in 2004 as a mutation on the heat-tolerant B. 'Herbstblute'. We trialed B. 'Solar Flare', waiting for it to expire in our brutally hot and humid summer, but instead it sailed through like a Roger Clemens fastball. In spring, the new foliage is stunning with a wide golden border around each green-centered leaf. In mid-summer, the color fades back to green, but each new flush of growth brings back the variegation. In fall, the foliage takes on a nice purple cast. As if it needed it, the clumps are topped with short spikes of pink flowers in late spring. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07866
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Berlandiera
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Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate Flower)
SunZone: 5-9 12" tall Origin: USA
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Chocolate flower is a fabulous heat- and drought-resistant US native perennial that hails from KS south through TX. In spring, the green winter rosette gives rise to 1' sprawling branches, each ending in 2" yellow sunflower-like flowers (May through December) that smell like a high-calorie chocolate bar (strongest fragrance is about midmorning). Although chocolate flower prefers well-drained alkaline soils, it has performed well in our acidic east coast garden for years...you will love it. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01530
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Beschorneria (False Red Yucca)
While the most common species B. yuccoides, used in mild UK gardens, has not proven winter hardy, many of the new species coming from higher elevations in Mexico have been fantastic in our trials. They are mostly evergreen, but some do become deciduous when our winter temperatures drop into the single digits. These light shade/part-sun loving, soft-leaved agave relatives are not only easy to grow, but produce some of the most unique flower spikes on any plants that we have grown...very Christmas-like. |
Beschorneria 'Ding Dong' (False Red Agave)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7-10 85" tall Origin: Mexico alternate image
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From our variable seed batches of Beschorneria decosteriana x septentrionalis, we made this selection for its truly huge proportions. Beschorneria 'Ding Dong' forms a massive, thick, green, sandpaper-like rosette to 3' wide. On mature clumps, the flowering spike emerges in spring like a giant phallic asparagus shoot. As the shoot tops 7' tall, it begins to turn bright red and branch outward. On each branch, the fascinating bell-shaped flowers of red and green begin to open over the next few weeks. I don't know much about things from Venus, but this plant must be from Mars. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05128
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Beschorneria septentrionalis coll. #YD33-12 (Great Plant With Really Bad Name)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-10, at least 20" tall Origin: Mexico alternate image
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This little-known agave relative, named in 1987, makes a truly superb and unusual garden plant. Growing in shade all alone in the Mexican mountains at Tamaulipas, this poor plant simply needed a loving home...and that occurred, thanks to a 1991 seed collection by John Fairey of Peckerwood Gardens. The glossy, evergreen rosette (no spines) makes an attractive clump to 3' wide. After it is well established, you will enjoy the 5' tall, glossy, red flower spikes that are adorned with lovely reddish bells with green tips in March/April...sounds perfect for an early Christmas! This Yucca Do collection #33-12 is made from the northern limit of the natural range. In hot TX climates, afternoon shade is best. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02704
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Biarum
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Biarum tenuifolium (Narrow leaf Half Arum)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7-8, at least 6" tall Origin: Mediterranean Europe
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This strange little Mediterranean geophyte is right out of "Honey, I Shrunk the Arums." One of the easiest species to cultivate in the garden, B. tenuifolium starts growing in late summer/early fall with a bizarre 3" tall inflorescence (all the floral stuff). The inflorescence consists of a short black hood housing a extraordinarily well-endowed spadix (a "long dong"), although it smells like long dung. The 6" long narrow green ruffled leaves emerge in late winter and go dormant by early summer. If you find arums too large, petunias too showy, and you enjoy the smell of rotten meat, biarums are for you! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07370
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Blechnum
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Blechnum nipponicum (Japanese Deer Fern)
Light ShadeZone: 6-7 3" tall Origin: Japan alternate image
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I'll admit it...I've had a severe case of fern envy! Try as we might, we have been unsuccessful at growing the West Coast deer fern, B. spicant, so we were very excited when we finally found a similar species that we can grow. While most blechnums hate our humid summers, B. nipponicum has proven quite reliable. Blechnum nipponicum makes a unique symmetrical evergreen clump of nearly flat, 1' long fronds, appearing as though a testosterone-laden spouse went through the woodland garden with a heavy-duty tractor. Although it's not the easiest fern to cultivate, a well-prepared soil and an open woodland site have worked very well. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05629
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| <Bambusa - Bauhinia] | [Bletilla - Bouvardia> |
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