Bonfire® begonias can take the drought, heat and humidity
Submitted by Lisa on Mon, 2010-05-31 10:17
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Looking for a colorful, heat and drought-tolerant landscape plant that lasts in containers and hanging baskets or that fills a lot of space in the garden and landscape? Then check out today's guest post on the red-hot, Bonfire begonias, from Sabina Reiner, brand manager for Selecta First Class, Inc.
The Bonfire series, which now includes the Bonfire Choc varieties featuring dark "chocolate" foliage, was developed by Tesselaar Plants and is now sold through the Ball Horticultural Company network as part of the Selecta First Class catalogue of products.
There are lots of begonias on the market, but Bonfire has brought them to the forefront again. Tell us all about it, Sabina!
Sabina Reiner
Bonfire begonia
Bonfire — the HOTTEST begonias on the market
By Sabina Reiner
The Bonfire series of begonias is not only one of our best-selling single varieties — it's one of the top consumer plants out there. Bonfire begonias are a great convenience plant for consumers, first and foremost, because they require less water and recover easily from drought stress.
Bonfire begonias also take the heat and perform like a champ, with brilliant, dramatic color all summer long.
These beautiful begonias are a great choice for visual appeal and interest in your garden or on your patio. They're high-impact, low-maintenance plants, creating continuous color and vibrant floral displays with a minimum of effort.
As a home gardener, I tested this series in my own garden. The key, I learned, is to not overwater it. It flowers from early summer through early frost, handling more heat and cold than many other begonia varieties. It also loves humidity. Although it'll tolerate shade or partial shade, it'll flower most profusely and produce the most vibrant color in full sun.
And yes, you can overwinter Bonfire begonia indoors (see "Overwintering Bonfire" below).
Last year, Selecta added Bonfire Scarlet (with brilliant red-orange blooms) to its product collection:
Bonfire (Scarlet) begonia in hanging basket
Bonfire in the landscape
Now, for 2010/20111, we're adding the dramatic, dark-foliaged Bonfire Choc series.
In addition to exciting, new, dark "chocolate" foliage, the Bonfire Choc varieties offer a great upright to mounding habit, making them perfect for containers, hanging baskets and landscaping. And like the original Bonfire series, Bonfire Choc varieties are extremely drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant while delivering colorful flowers and fantastic foliage all summer long.
Bonfire Choc Red
Bonfire Choc Pink
Bonfire Choc won rave reviews when it was introduced at this year's California Spring Trials (the annual event unveiling many new plant introductions about to hit the market). Choc Red, in fact, was one of garden guru Allan Armitage's top picks at the trial! Southern Living's Grumpy Gardener also praised the Bonfire series there.
Design tips
I've found that the Bonfire and Bonfire Choc varieties look most provocative when paired or grouped with deep burgundies, true purples and/or silver foliage.
Overwintering Bonfire
Gardeners in cold climates can overwinter Bonfire begonias indoors. Just let the plant rest in a cold (not freezing), dry place. The images below show the progression of Bonfire coming back to life in the spring.
Pancake-like Bonfire begonia tubers starting to wake up:
1½ months later:
And I look forward to it returning to its glorious state:
Thanks so much for contributing, Sabina!
Also check out the great post by Margaret Roach, author of the popular A Way to Garden blog, on her love of Bonfire begonias and her success in overwintering them. Bonfire begonias were also the Featured Plant of the Week in this May 19 post by Valley View Farms (one of the largest and most complete independent garden centers in the mid-Atlantic region)!
The original Bonfire begonia was also named as one of 10 “basket-worthy annuals that can take the heat and the sun” in the May 7 PennLive.com post (featuring a picture of Bonfire) by George Weigel (garden writer for the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Va., circulation 102,000). Bonfire and Bellfire begonias also star in the annual edition of Container Gardening magazine (by Fine Gardening, circulation 140,000).
Have you grown Bonfire begonias, or tried to overwinter them? Please post a comment, and include some pics!
Comments
I love these plants. Really!
Sorry I’m so delayed in responding… Glad you love the Bonfire begonias! I had a hanging basket of them on my front porch last season and everybody just went gaga over it everytime they saw it. It was so beautiful, and always so full of blooms, that we set up two Adirondack chairs under it, and that just made it our “happy place.” This year, I picked up a fucshia in a hanging basket just because I was in a hurry, and then regretted it. I wanted that Bonfire begonia back! Just to warn you - they’re so popular, you’re best going out in the beginning of the season if you want to snag one! Thanks again for visiting, and again - sorry for my late response!
I love these plants’ Really
I love these plants’ Really great for landscapers!
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tubers
Hi Tariq,
Thanks for visiting Your Easy Garden and for your interest in Bonfire begonias.
Unfortunately, Tesselaar doesn't sell direct, and they can't supply you with tubers. I dealt with the same thing this year. I grew them last year in a basket and loved, loved, loved them! Only problem was, they were so popular that by the time I asked for them at big box and independent garden centers this year (they're sold at both), they were mostly gone! My tip is to go early in the season and snag them then.
And you know they can be overwintered in your basement or a cool, dry place, right?
Best of luck!
Lisa
tubers
Hi Lisa,
Just saw your reply when I came back to your blog. Thanks for the additional info.
Just wondering, is it possible to buy some tubers from you? I know I am stretching it, but just thought it might be worth asking :) I am looking to have all 4 varieties. Let me know if you could help me out. Otherwise, Garden Harvest Supply has two varieties and I will look for Choc Pink and Choc Red from somewhere else. They are proving to be difficult to find at this time of the year though.
http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/ProductCart/pc/showsearchresults.asp?…
Cool, and thanks for replying.
availability
Tariq your brother should be able to find these in just about any local nursery. They are very common. I think you are right they would probably do very well in a climate like you have. I would suggest that your brother ship the tubers after the plants go dormant in the fall.
I know I just pull them in every winter because I live in Minnesota but I the tubers store just fine. I have kept them cool and dry and warm and dry and both worked find. These are tough plants.
The only thing is the plants tend to become more “tree like” and less pendulous as the tubers age. Still very pretty though.
This post has relevant info
This post has relevant info on the specified topic. Nation High School
My Grandma would always
I had a hanging basket of them last year, and am planning on buying another one this year for my front porch. My husband and I set up Adirondack chairs and with the Bonfire begonia hanging overhead, that was our summer "happy place!" This year, I want to buy one of the new chocolate-leaved versions of Bonfire - either Choc Red or Choc Pink… Good luck with whatever you choose … it will no doubt be worth it…and if you live in a cold climate, try to overwinter it (I did something wrong and killed mine) - but try, nevertheless!
My Grandma would always
My Grandma would always decorate her outdoor seating areas with Begonias. Begonias are bright, cheery flowers that will always remind me of summer at Grandma’s. Now that I have my own place, I need to cultivate my own green thumb and start beautifying my environment with plants and flowers. I have never been a fan of hanging baskets, but after seeing the scarlet begonia, I think my mind has just been changed. Such a burst of color! Hopefully, by the end of summer, I’ll have my place on its way match the floral glory in and around my Grandma’s home and patio sets
I am hoping the same best
I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing ability has inspired me, thanks !
All I can say is begonias
All I can say is begonias are simply beautiful and hardy, and as stunning as the pictures are, they still do not quite do it justice.
Regards,
Richard
Oak Furniture
Bonfire and Sparkle Begonias
Bonfire and Sparkle Begonias are my absolute favourite! I have them hanging outside my windows and visitors often comment on how beautiful and stunning they are. A big plus is that they are also pretty hardy too – sometimes I forget to water them and they still flourish, even in summer they don’t seem to wilt. Love them!
Regards,
Paul
Orangeries
Thanks Lisa, Looks like I
Thanks Lisa,
Looks like I will be ordering form Gurneys, after all. Sounds like the best option for online shopping. Too bad they do not have the other three varieties.
need tubers or plants in karachi, pakistan
Hi, and thanks for visiting Your Easy Garden! You can mail-order them through http://gurneys.com.
Need tubers or plants in Karachi, Pakistan
Hi Lisa,
Is it possible to buy tubers of these plants? I am having difficulty finding them. Can you tell me where these can be bought near East Meadow, Long Island, NY? I am in Pakistan and my brother lives there. I need to either order these online for him to send them to me or tell him exactly where to go to get them. I tried Hicks Nurseries but they won’t carry them this year.
It seems that this plant would be perfect for the kind of weather we have out here. I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me out in acquiring these plants.
Sincerely,
Tariq
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