Any Beefsteak Begonias out there?

8 years ago

This one is mine & my only good looking begonia..I don't have a great friendship with canes or rexes. So I stick to easier ones to grow.

And surprisingly my Iron Cross is still living..ha.

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hc mcdole

8 years ago

Your beefsteak and Iron Cross are looking very good!

Beefsteak (B. 'Erythrophylla') is one of the most beloved of all begonias. I have made 10 trips to Florida to buy begonias for our annual sale. I brought many begonias back from Orlando in all kinds of color, sizes, leaf shapes, cane, species, etc. and we had a couple of buyers who were just looking for beefsteak so they left empty-handed.

The biggest one I ever saw (pot size, not leaf size) was at the Datsun dealer (before they changed the name to Nissan) in a 36 inch pot or bigger. This was 1982 so no digital cameras or smart phones back then. It could've been B. 'Bunchii' as I didn't know any other begonias at that time.

If you want a super beefsteak, you must get 'Freddie' as the leaves are twice the size (maybe 3x) the size of beefsteak.

Here is one of my beefsteaks next to Kula.

And one I am playing with in a small 3 inch pot. Just to see how big it can get by constraining the roots.

I lost my curly beefsteak a few years back and would like to try it again one of these years.

I don't think this is a curly one but it sure looks like it. Maybe Frosty Fairyland.

Ah, here is Freddie - the big boy. This one is just a youngster I put in a 4 inch cup.

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Comments (6)

Debra (6a) West Ma.
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi there Mcdole! Your begonias AND your set up are gorgeous. I want your plant space...You must be in retail. Definitely want that Freddie too. Didn't know they came in a curly version..sounds interesting.

The shelf under Freddie is that a propagating tray? which variety are you propagating?

I can't imagine a 36" planter...my gosh that must have been a sight to behold.

Here I come Google!
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Debra (6a) West Ma.
Original Author
8 years ago
Look what I found! and many, many more rhizomatous begonias.

Freddie
hc mcdole
8 years ago
Nope, I don't sell but some folks think I should. HA!

There are lots of begonias that look similar to beefsteak. Madame Queen, Munchkin (a small version of Madame Queen), Red Fred (a sport of Freddie), Suzie's Curl, Muddy Waters, and more than I know about personally.

No, that really isn't a propagating tray although I do use them at times for propagation. That is a simple aluminum tray (lasagna tray) that I buy in packs from Sam's Club (15 in previous years for less than $10, they've upped the count to 18 this year). I punch holes in the bottom if I want a growing tray, else it serves as a drip tray so my lights below the trays don't get flooded out.

The 36" pot certainly was a sight the few times I went to the Datsun dealer to initially buy the truck and then get maintenance. It is a shame I didn't ask for a piece of it as part of the "deal". Not only was the pot full but there were many trailers off the sides of beefsteak as well.
Debra (6a) West Ma. thanked hc mcdole
Nita Bargen
8 years ago
This post is a little old, but I'm hoping I can get an answer.... My beefsteak begonia was massive... I'm attaching a photo, but I lost about half of the top and sides through our last storm.. it was more than 3'... easy. This is a 22" pot and I've GOT to repot this. Any ideas on how to go about it? It was an easy fix when it was younger, and has been fine in this pot for a couple.of years, but now I don't know what to do. I had/have rhizos in there that are twice the size of my thumb....
hc mcdole
8 years ago
Very nice! You have got yourself quite a job if you are hoping to move this to another pot. Most of it will have very shallow roots (or should be) so you won't have to dig the entire contents of the pot out. You will probably end up with some broken leaves and stems (but you can use those to start some more). A pot that big makes it very difficult to lift a plant out like a begonia, especially a beefsteak begonia without some damage. You might try putting a cardboard or tarp under the roots as you go along if you want to lift it all out in one piece. Good luck and show us your after pics when you get it done! I hope you have at least one other set of hands to help.

PS - I saw one (bunchii) at the Datsun dealer in 1982 (where I bought my first truck) in a pot that was at least 36" across and at least that high. The rhizomes were dangling out of the pot and nearly reaching the floor. It was an amazing specimen and this was at a car dealership to boot!