Please name this begonia

8 years ago

If it's really a begonia. It was a gift. It does very well in my north window. I do have water in the saucer under it and it's not sitting in the water.

I love this plant. Had it since Oct was a very small root and has done great.

Thank you for your time.

One more

Featured Answer

hc mcdole

8 years ago

Yes, but the blooms are not that spectacular - small clusters and only once a year - usually in the dead of winter if you have to keep them indoors. Much better if you live in a frost free area where they can bloom outdoors.

I consider blooms icing on the cake for most begonias as most folks buy begonias for their leaves, size, patterns, textures, quirks, etc. Blooms are secondary.

This is not a bowerae hybrid but the blooms are similar. This was just two days ago in the basement of Bashful Bandit.

This is a small hybrid's blooms (again not a bowerae) so don't expect a lot for indoor blooms.

Another small rhizo in bloom under lights in the dark recesses of my basement.

If you live in Florida, South Texas, California then you can expect a showoff blooms. Here are a few.

This is a bowerae hybrid last year in San Antonio where they hosted the ABS and SWR conventions together.

Belize (Valentine's Day 2006) at a rural home. I guess the blooms were so insignificant that I didn't photograph those. Still amazing that this was the middle of February.

If you live in Santa Barbara then you can have blooms like these. The begonia in front is probably Richmondensis while the big leaf one is Lotusland. This was at The Gazebo - September, 2007

Here is Begonia 'Lotusland' in the ground at its namesake, Lotusland Estate.

Finally found a picture from the Atlanta Flower Show (March 2013) with a wonderfully grown bowerae (or hybrid) from one of our members in full bloom. Sorry for the quality of the photos as most indoor shows don't have enough light and flash photography is not that good for plants.

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Comments (12)

hc mcdole
8 years ago
It is more than likely a bowerae hybrid. Looks similar to Persian Brocade, Chantilly Lace, and others.
mark4321_gw
8 years ago
I agree it's clearly a B. bowerae hybrid. I have one which looks nearly identical which I bought at the SF Botanical Garden. It was labeled B. bowerae var. major. Whether that's correct or whether it's a hybrid, I don't know. Actually my mom has the original plant--I'll see if i can get a picture at some point.
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hc mcdole
8 years ago
Two very popular bowerae hybrids are 'Tiger Kitten' and 'Kit Kat'. The really cool one today is 'Kevin Whitecotton' as it looks like chocolate leaves.

Apparently bowerae was a very popular parent in a lot of small leaf begonias.
hc mcdole
8 years ago
This is Persian Brocade
sorie6 zone 6b
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks! That is pretty. Looks a little different than mine.
sorie6 zone 6b
Original Author
8 years ago
How can I propagate it? Thanks
hc mcdole
8 years ago
By leaf or rhizome (stem) cuttings.
sorie6 zone 6b
Original Author
8 years ago
OK thank you!
mark4321_gw
8 years ago
Here's my mom's plant, which I bought from the SF Botanical Garden labeled Begonia bowerae var. major. I'll include photos both with and without flash.
sorie6 zone 6b
Original Author
8 years ago
Has anyone had them bloom?
sorie6 zone 6b
Original Author
8 years ago
Very nice. Thank you for all the pictures.

I'm going to try to propagate some.