Well no answers in a month so I guess I'll bump this post on down. By the way the plant is doing great and has put out a couple of more blooms.

I'm sorry you haven't gotten any answers, but I'm guessing everyone has the same problem I have--I never heard of a pigskin begonia. Most begonias are not hard, and it sounds like you're doing fine. Have you been to the American Begonia Society site to look at pictures and maybe identify it further? I've been watching this space to see if anyone had an answer 'cause I wanted to know too!

hi there,

i think that, if we're talking about the same thing, the correct cultivar name for this begonia is Begonia 'Boomer.'
see if you can find your begonia using that search! sounds like light levels are okay, and it is indeed a great idea to browse the ABS for general culture info--look under the "thick-stemmed" classification. HTH,

-ming

Here is a link that might be useful: is this it?

Gee, you're a genius, Ming! Never would have connected that. At least on my monitor, tho', I wouldn't recognize it if I were looking for a name for mine. Hope it's just this monitor. It's a great, tough, beautiful begonia. I've had it since before it got its name--think it was sent out as a 'U number' but turned out to be an accidental hybrid, if I remember the story accurately. Thought I'd lost mine this last winter, just under a frost blanket outside, but it's coming back nicely.

Hello ming! And thank you! "Boomer" is indeed the plant I have. So much for box store plant tags! nova

I think there will be a very special place for the people responsible for plant labels in box stores in the hereafter. Only, I have a horrible suspicion it's a bunch of under-paid, over-worked people doing the best they can, and nobody is really responsible!

Well said greenelbows! Besides, look at all the fun we have trying to figure out what we have brought home! Case in point, a couple of weeks ago I went to our local Master Gardeners sale and brought home what was labled as an "Argentine Amazon Vine" after much research with no luck and then waiting for it to bloom I found out it was really an "Argentine Painted Trumpet Vine"! Oh well, nobody is perfect and I love a good mystery! nova

I went out and got a picture of my "boomer" today. Just to verify it's ID -

{{gwi:432023}}

I am new at posting pictures so I hope this works! Click on it to get a bigger picture! Thanks to all again! nova

yay! it looks like the names match up :)

i had a little snippet of this guy once, but i lost it. ah well. your photobucket album is nice--i love the picture of that frog snugged inside a flower.

-ming

Thank you ming for the comment on the frog! I was sort of surprized by how well it came out. I popped over to your member page and love your pictures of "Big Lizard"! Just have to share my "Big Lizard" [except he's an iguana and I call him "Wildman" -

{{gwi:432024}}

Oregon to Florida with begonias and lizards! Life is good! nova

Very nice looking begonia! Boy, it sure doesn't look beat up and unhealthy at all! I guess you must surely have a green thumb! Its one happy camper of a begonia.

Randi

Thanks Randi! One month of TLC can make a world of differance in alot of plants. I do have to give Mother Nature credit for some really great weather here in Florida this spring. Just enough rain and some wonderfully mild temps helped this baby out alot! nova

I was reading through older posts like this one and thought, hmm, didn't I see pigskin somewhere?
So, seven years later: another culprit. Not sure I like either name Boomer or Pigskin...

Here is a link that might be useful: pigskin again