Bonfire Begonia

Here comes another new discovery for me late in the planting season. It wasn't until I visited a rural garden center that I discovered this beautiful begonia. Only three lonely plants sitting on an upper ledge...somewhat covered by some empty pots. Could someone have put these delicate looking gems aside, trying ever so hard to hide them from plain sight?

Naturally, any plant that glows such a magnificent coral red immediately catches my attention, no matter how hard someone tries to hide the plant.

Have I been living under a rock not to notice this annual in my previous adventures to the garden center? While the tag indicates that the Bonfire works well as a border plant, I can't imagine planting it in the ground! This begonia belongs in a planter box, basket or container...allowing for the naturally curving branches, filled with an abundance of brightly coloured blooms, to fall gently downwards.

Patience is needed to pick up the spent blooms, but really who cares. This annual is self cleaning, meaning that no deadheading is required. I must confess, however, that I do help it along and pick off the seed pods. I'm probably the only gardener that also deadheads the Lobelia. Crazy, I know.

Now, don't go thinking that I have so much time on my hands, it just that the plants seem to look so much better when only the living blooms are attached to the stems!

So, go ahead, find the Bonfire Begonia and while you are at it, buy another container for planting. Just remember to add Myke's growth hormone prior to adding the begonia. This begonia also prefers a moist soil, so don't forget to water regularly. Enjoy!