Each year the National Garden Bureau chooses one perennial, bulb and annual to highlight as their “Year of the” varieties. “Each is chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile,” their website states. In 2016, they’ve chosen Begonia as their annual, Allium as their bulb and Delphinium as their perennial to highlight. We can’t be more thrilled – all three of these are some of our favorites to grow and we’re excited to have a reason to talk more about them.
Begonias
Begonias are shade-loving beauties that produce some of the most colorful and awe-inspiring blooms in the garden, often doing their best in containers. “With over 1,700 different species, Begonias (family Begoniaceae) is the fifth most diverse class of plants,” says the National Garden Bureau. “Begonias are often found wild from South and Central America to India. It is impossible to know exactly where they originated, but stories of plants matching their description date back to 14th century China.”
These historic plants can be grown in almost any part of the country, but should be started indoors at least a month before being brought outside, to ensure summer blooms. Begonias require shade, regular watering and feeding, so they are best planted on the patio or in an easy-to-reach spot. That said, Begonias also do perfectly well planted in the ground and the blooms, often reaching 5-6” across, make a colorful statement anywhere in the garden.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: American Meadows Blog
