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Begonia ‘Benitochiba’ - Growing Guide
Plants

Begonia ‘Benitochiba’ - Growing Guide

Although the reference books say that this is a tender greenhouse begonia which will not tolerate frost we have found that it grows perfectly well in pots or tubs in the nursery without any special protection. It is a rhizomatous begonia which dies down completely in the winter and can be late to emerge into growth in spring after a colder winter. Nevertheless we have seen it survive -5°C with no trouble, although it might be safer to treat it as a greenhouse or patio plant in colder parts of the country.

This begonia can most easily be propagated from leaf, tip or root stem cuttings taken in summer and overwintered in a frost free glasshouse. It grows to about a foot in height.

The leaves are 8in or so across and palmately divided with ovate leaflets and red leaf stalks. The most attractive feature of this plant is its leaves. These are silvery grey with infusions of pink when young and then turning silver. In early autumn (or sometimes more irregularly in winter under glass) the leaves contrast well with the small clusters of pink flowers.