Even when summer gardens wind down, the hardy begonia (Begonia grandis) is still going strong in most shade gardens where it’s planted. In fact, this herbaceous perennial generally blooms from about midsummer through October until the first frost. This long bloom time is just one of many reasons gardeners appreciate the hardy begonia so much. Because the hardy begonia thrives in part shade, it’s perfect as an understory plant. (That means you could include hardy begonias around the base of your trees and shrubs or even plant them in the shade of taller perennials next season.)
Hands down, the look and feel of this beauty’s foliage is what really sets it apart—asymmetrical, olive green leaves are shot through with bright red veins. And when the wind blows just right? These striking leaves reveal nearly metallic red undersides. Best of all, hardy begonias don’t require much care and are fairly deer-resistant, too.
Meet the hardy begoniaThe hardy begonia (or Begonia grandis) is just one of the more than 2,000 plant species in the Begoniaceae family. Depending on the hardy begonia cultivars you choose, its inch-wide blooms may be pink or white. (For instance, while some hardy begonia plant types like Begonia grandis ‘Heron’s Pirouette’ feature pink flowers, Begonia grandis ‘Alba’ puts out delicate white flowers instead.)
Hardy begonias originally came from Asia’s higher altitude regions and, as a result, they perform well despite cold weather. These cold-and-shade-tolerant plants can grow up to two feet tall with about a two-foot spread.
In addition to their clusters of nodding flowers and arresting green-and-red leaves, hardy begonias also produce papery, angular-looking seed pods which provide their own bit of visual
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