Begonias: A Must-Have Companion Plant for Plant Lovers

Hello! Are you familiar with Begonias? When I think of Begonias, I often remember them as flowers frequently used in landscaping projects by the government. I also think of their vibrant, multicolored blooms. Begonias come in a truly wide variety of types. Today, you'll learn about the diverse world of Begonias that you might not know about! Shall we begin?

The English name for Begonia is Perpetual begonia, and it is a foliage and flowering plant native to temperate and tropical regions. There are numerous varieties, with over 2000 species officially registered. Begonias are distributed across various continents, including Asia, Africa, America, and Australia, and within the Begonia genus, there is a great diversity of species.

However, if we introduce some general characteristics, the size is about 15-30cm, and flowering occurs throughout various seasons, including spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Generally, sowing takes place between April and June. The origin is Brazil, and it is said that after being introduced to Europe, a lot of cultivar development occurred.

This plant has been particularly popular among enthusiasts, and recently, due to the trend of plant lovers seeking rare plants, it has gained immense popularity. However, Begonias can be difficult to maintain humidity levels, and if the humidity drops, they can dry out and die. Therefore, care must be taken to control the humidity. Also, since the management method differs depending on the type of Begonia, it is better to look up the exact management method for the specific variety.

Begonias can be propagated through seeds, cuttings, division, and stem cuttings. In particular, rhizomatous Begonias can be grown into new individuals by cutting the leaves and placing them in a sealed container with high humidity. Also, if you cut the leaves and propagate them in sphagnum moss, you can obtain multiple new shoots from a single leaf. Begonias come in many varieties, and some are also known for their flowers. Some varieties produce seeds from flowers, and they have separate male and female flowers. Depending on the propagation method, they can be categorized into rhizomatous Begonias and cane-like Begonias. Here, rhizomatous Begonias refer to those with stems growing from the roots, while cane-like Begonias grow in a tree-like form.

To share a fun fact about Begonias, the appearance of the claimed territory of the Republic of China (Taiwan) resembles a Begonia leaf, so it is called Begonia, and in Chinese, it is called Qiu Haitang (秋海棠).

Now that you have a general understanding of Begonias, let me introduce you to the **Wax Begonia**, which you can easily recognize when you pass by it on the street.

Also known as Wax Begonias or Fibrous Begonia in English, its scientific name is Begonia semperflorens. The leaf color varies from green, light green, red, pink, to purple. Flowers bloom in spring, summer, and autumn. Like the leaf color, the flower color also comes in a range of pink, red, orange, and white. However, it has almost no fragrance.

Now, aren't you curious about the flower language of Begonias? The flower language is **'Kindness, Politeness'**. I wonder why it has such a flower language.

Among the various Begonias that bloom, I'd like to introduce one that I personally find beautiful. It's the **Begonia 'Rex'**.

The 'Rex' is a cane-like Begonia and a foliage plant. It's a plant with distinctive elongated leaves. New shoots emerge in a polka-dot pattern, making it fun to cultivate. Although primarily a foliage plant, it produces remarkably beautiful flowers. While smaller than Wax Begonias, the translucent pink blooms evoke an image of pure dewdrops nestled deep within a mountain forest.

So far, we've explored Begonias in general, Wax Begonias, and the perhaps unfamiliar Begonia 'Rex'. Don't you think the world of Begonias is vast and diverse? Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to consider adding a Begonia to your plant family? We'll introduce another interesting plant in the future. Thank you!