Hello. I came to this forum seeking information about the same plant. I took a look at the date, and saw that your post has been unanswered for a while.

I do not live in the Mid-Atlantic states, but I will give it a shot: Begonia boliviana is fairly coldhardy as Begonias go, but I do not imagine that it would survive long-term in the suburbs of DC.

It is a tuberous species. You could simply dig it up for the winter, dust it with a bit of sulfur, and store the tuber in sawdust in a cool, well-ventilated, humid location such as a basement.

Summer would also be challenging. Like many Begonias it is a mountain plant and probably not suited to excessive heat. Maybe if you happen to be close enough to the coast. It also happens to be a native of the southern hemisphere, which implies that it might not have much tolerance for Phytophthera. I don't know, because although my yard is badly infested with Phyto, B. boliviensis was planted out fairly late in the year, when the worst of the Phyto season is over.

It has not been widely grown for very long, so I am sorry not to have more definitive information. I am located where it is coldhardy (and where summers are cool enough for tuberous Begonias) but my impression was that it couldn't take much more cold than what we get. That would be surprising as it is literally a tropical plant--which happens to grow at high enough elevations to see a bit of frost.

My only other Begonia, B. evansii / B. grandis, seems to be quite immune to Phytophthora. Not surprising; it's Chinese. And it is very coldhardy. It is blooming now, just as cute as can be, and it is getting pieces of it stolen by passersby (it is right next to the public sidewalk--probably a bad spot. I had no idea my neighbors were so larcenous when I put it there).

Now I have a question, if anyone else reads this thread:

How does one vegetatively propagate tuberous begonias? Is this an option? I want backup plants. I dunno if I have enough growing season left to ripen a seedpod.

Thank you for that very informative answer. I have phytophthora in my yard. SO it is a concern.

My B. evansii did very well---I had a stand that was 4 feet by 6 feet. Then a blight came through and now I have only little stands here and there through out the yard.

Thanks for giving me so much to think about.

Uh oh. I have Phytophthora (multiple species!), Pythium, Rust, and Powdery Mildew in my yard. I just assumed B. evensii must be fairly resistent if it wasn't dead yet!

It might help that my summers are cooler than yours, so the window of opportunity for the warmer-growing fungal diseases is shorter. But I have some species that are active in cool weather (they kill strawberries :( ).

All the disease in my yard has been a major problem for gardening, but I am learning to deal with it by mulching, avoiding overhead watering, and trying to get benign competative fungii going. The funny thing is my soil is like beach sand, but it still harbors fungii usually associated with poor drainage.

Begonia boliviensis roots easily from cuttings!

yes,it roots easily

i have 2, i mean 5 since i rooted 3

the one that looks the healthiest gets minimal direct sun

the flowers are just awesome

i will overwinter one in the garage and one keep one going on the windowsill

remember that it emerges later in the spring than others

the picture below was taken at Berkeley Botanical Garden where it looked like it got dappled sunlight through the trees

sorry, i didnt take a closer picture of the plant in the background in bloom, i was more interested in getting the name tag in the pic

{{gwi:438325}}

Beaniebeagle, interesting that this species is growing so upright for you. I'm growing this species (acquired from Plant Delights Nursery) and it is strictly trailing.

that's not mine, I wish

it's at the Univ of Berkeley outside of San Francisco

the visit there is the reason I bought the 2 plants online

I am assuming that it is a very mature plant/tuber since the plant is so upright

The Begonia boliviensis at the UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley was collected as seed in northern Argentina in the 1980s. The original plant grew here in Berkeley in clay soil for 15 years. So very easy and tough. Other plants in the garden are cuttings from the original. They seem to tolerate our clay amended with organic matter, and grow and bloom in sun or some half shade in full shade they bloom less.
There are many new hybrids of this begonia in nurseries today. They are getting good reviews as easy and colorful. The species is also easy and colorful and does well with lots of light.
I grow Santa Cruz Sunset a seed grown variety bred by the German wholesale seed company Benary. The photo is from a Benary trade show display of Santa Cruz Sunset grown in a special series of vertical planters. I bought a 1 gal pot and potted it up to a 3 gal immediately and gave it timed release fertilizer. It grew and flowered like crazy.

That is SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bet the hummingbirds never leave!

I must covet that begonia :) :)

looks like a perfect xmas tree to me ;)!
just fabulous! thanks for the pic!