October Perennial of the Month-Hardy begonia

Begonia grandis

Begonias. The staple of annual plantings that most people recognize. Angel wing, tuberose, rex … all begonias are annuals, right?

Enter the hardy begonia that in St. Louis starts performing in mid-September and doesn’t take a final bow until frost. (Typically mid to late October.)

What I love about this plant-It takes shade!!! Great for late-season color that pairs well with the asters that bloom at the same time. It’s both elegant and, well . . . cute. The pendant clusters of flowers hang over as if in prayer, so place them where you can take advantage of this trait along the top of a retaining wall or in a raised container. Up close, the flowers are baby-girl pink with tiny button pom-pom anther clusters that would make Barbie swoon. My favorite feature is the underside of the leaves. Red veins pop against the translucent green leaf resemble stained glass when back-lit late afternoon or early morning sun. Enchanting no less.

What’s not so great? Hardy begonias love the shade, but not DRY shade. Don’t even try unless you want pathetic, weak little stems with few, if any, flowers. It loves rich, moist, but well-drained soil. Compost and mulch will help, especially since it can be tender in St. Louis if too exposed. It can fool you into thinking it didn’t survive winter by emerging very late in spring, so don’t give up too soon on it. It can be a prolific seeder in the right conditions. I wouldn’t call it a garden thug, but after a few years, you will have plants to share with either friends or the compost heap.

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

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