General Culture:

Best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Soils should not be allowed to dry out. Winter mulch is advisable in the St. Louis area where plants are not reliably winter hardy. Deadhead flowers to extend bloom period. Self-propagates by tiny bulblets which form in the leaf axils autumn and drop to the ground. Bulblets may also be harvested from the leaf axils and planted as desired. New season growth is usually late to appear.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Hardy begonia is a clump-forming, tuberous-rooted perennial that typically grows to 2' tall on red stems. Ovate olive-green leaves with red undersides and conspicuous red veining form an attractive foliage mound. Drooping clusters of pink to white flowers (to 1" across) appear in August-September, sometimes blooming to frost.