Begonia
flower
One of the best shade annuals — wax begonias tolerate sun better than most shade plants. Tuberous begonias need shade and produce the largest blooms. Do not overwater — crowns rot in soggy soil. Grown as annual in most of the US.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–11
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry
- Soil
- Loam
- pH
- Acidic, neutral
- Spacing
- 10 in. between plants
- Per square foot
- 1 plant per square
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Recommended varieties
- Dragon Wing Redstart
Vigorous trailing wax begonia with glossy dark leaves — full sun to shade.
- Nonstop Seriesstart
Tuberous begonia with double camellia-like blooms — outstanding shade performer.
- Big Seriesstart
Huge-flowered wax begonia with exceptional heat and sun tolerance.
- Bonfirestart
Orange tuberous type — cascading habit, great for bed edges.
Add Begonia to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →