With the renewed interest in
begonias for containers, baskets and garden use it is good to see that
the introduction of new tuberous begonias will continue in 2009. The
dull wet summer of 2008 proved how useful tuberous Begonias are in the
garden, as many of the traditional summer plants performed poorly under
these conditions. On the other hand, Begonias continued with their
wonderful colourful display until the season’s end. I have been trying
for many years to raise the awareness of the advantages of tuberous
begonias for outdoor summer use; it pleases me that so many different
new types are becoming available.
The “Renoir”
Begonias are a development from the Reiger type begonias and were bred
in Germany specifically for patio containers as they are upright in
habit; they flower profusely in many positions including bright
sunshine. They make good strong plants and are almost foolproof in the
garden with strong dark bronze green leaves. Presently available in four
individual bright colours, flowers are of medium size and fully double
with very strong and hard petals, again useful to dispel
the rain. The
“Renoir Red” is one of the best true reds
available in Begonias
of this type, a brilliant colour; the
“Renoir Salmon” as a combination of plant
and flower is almost perfect, the “Renoir Pink”
is a gorgeous rose pink and the “Renoir Yellow”
is bright and striking.
The family work well together being uniform in plant and flower,
making them ideal for large displays in containers, they will brighten
up
patio’s and other areas of the garden. Flowering continually all
summer long,
they would also be good bedded out if we had a dry warm
summer but having
had a couple of wet summers in the past few years, it
is a safer bet using them for container’s. They have been developed
using Begonia: socratana in their breeding, so they prefer drier
conditions than the tuberous multifloras. The 4 colours can be seen in
the pictures and are available in many garden centers. To find a
stockist near you, visit
www.brilliantgardens.com
where they have a list
of garden centers they supply around the country.
My variety “Peardrop”
had a limited introduction last year but with the build up of stock they
will
be more widely available in 2009. With this variety you get two for
one when it comes to the flower shape and colour. In cooler conditions
it is a double salmon pink but with warmer weather the yellow center
develops which makes this a unique begonia as can be seen in the
picture. Small to medium sized flowers with beautiful dark veined
foliage, a well grown plant is a delight, especially when the yellow
center is fully developed. I would classify this as a multiflora, as the
plant height is similar to “Le Flamboyant”,
stockists can be found at the web address previously mentioned. It is
also useful for containers, especially in warmer conditions where the
yellow center is likely to develop earlier than when bedded out. Window
boxes would also suit this variety where it would show off both its
attractive foliage and bi-coloured flowers.
“Ami Jean Bard”
was introduced a century ago in 1909 bred
by Arthur Billard in France; tubers
of this variety were produced before
and just after the last war in their hundreds of thousands. Although
like so many multiflora varieties it virtually died out from commercial
production, however, 2009 will see plant production once more, although
production will be limited until commercial stock is built up. Will
possibly be available in some garden centers, the variety “Madame
Richard Galle”
was a sport from this about 1932 in Belgium.
I was fortunate to discover
a yellow sport from this group in 2006; it is very similar to
“Frau Helene Harms”,
coming from “Madame Richard Galle”
it has the same flower size and habit. The main difference to
“Frau Helene Harms” is shorter pedicles
making this a more compact plant, although when planted in full sun the
guard petals develop a salmon colour on the reverse of the petals, not
as deep a colour as the guard petals on “Frau Helene Harms”.
Habit is the same as “Ami Jean Bard”
and “Madame Richard Galle”; this has been named “Lemondrops”,
which
means the 3 colours can be used to make some very even plantings
almost carpet bedding. Availability will be limited this year but should
improve next season as stock is built up.
The following 5 varieties
have come from the breeder of the Million Kisses series, Fred Yates and
bred in Cheshire, they will be available in many garden centers round
the UK.
Another colour in the “Million Kisses”
single series will be available this
year, a nice bright
almost velvety red named
“Devotion”, a stronger grower than
the original orange / scarlet Million Kisses
“Passion” which will no doubt be as
popular as white “Elegance”, and
pink “Romance”. The flowers are
about a third larger than the other varieties in this series with the
same habit of growth but stronger, so will make excellent container and
basket plants.
The second one I saw at a
trade display in the summer, grown as a basket it was covered in small
anemone type flowers although it could be used for containers and
possibly garden planting. Displayed in any of the NBS shows as a basket
plant it would create a great deal
of interest. It has an unusual
name “Bon Bon Sherbet”, it is
something different from the recognized begonia shape but its flowering
capabilities look excellent and it should prove very popular. Not sure
how many plants were in the basket shown in the picture, but you must
agree they make a beautiful display.
Although the next 3 varieties will be propagated in the Netherlands
they are likely to turn up at a number of Garden Centers, as did the
original “Salmon Sparkler”
last
season. A new colour “Scarlet Sparkler”,
with similar flowers and foliage to
the Million Kisses series is to be
introduced this year, with more upright growth being suitable for both
garden and container use.
Something totally different in the tuberous begonias is
“Dainty Dancer”, with tiny ½inch single
salmon orange flowers with a plant height of 3 inches and trailing 18
inches when planted in a
basket or container. Looking at the picture of
this variety it could even be suitable for bedding; it certainly is
worth trying this way as it could make a good edging plant to beds of multifloras and other Begonias.
No doubt there will be
others available from other sources; the ones mentioned are varieties I
know about. There are many others in the pipe line for future
introductions, so at last cutting raised begonias for the garden with
their reliability are taking their rightful place as long flowering
colourful garden plants.
