Made in the Shade
by Tom Hewitt
With so much going on at Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach these days, it’s easy to miss a thing or two. But if you’re a begonia lover, don’t dare miss the new begonia display garden.
Tucked away in a crescent-shaped area off the main walkway, this is actually the fourth version of a begonia display garden at Mounts. The first was located near the bookstore at the entrance, the second in the rainforest and the third near the garden’s iconic statue, Educating Sarah, by sculptor Robert St. Croix.
‘Judy Cook’ is a stunning rex variety with silvery leaves and pink flowers. Photo by Tom Hewitt
Hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 destroyed the tree canopy in the last garden, rendering it inhospitable for begonias. The new garden is just a stone’s throw from the old one, but offers a nice mix of palms that provide just the right amount of shade favored by most begonia species.
Good Companions
Joel Crippen, Horticulturist at Mounts Botanical Garden, suggests playing fine-textured plants against the coarser leaves of begonias. Some of his favorite begonia companions include:
Ferns - Those with bluish fronds go well with silver-leaved begonias.
Selaginella - Commonly known as “fern allies” or spikemosses
Aspidistra - Attractive ‘Milky Way’ has white spots on leaves.
Sansevieria - Grow in pots to keep them from spreading.
Calatheas - Some have burgundy undersides that complement begonias like ‘Caribbean Corsair’.
Stromanthes - Their variegated leaves play well against begonias with dark-green foliage.
Aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei) - Looks great with silver-foliaged and white- flowering begonias.
Amazon lily (Eucharis × grandiflora) - Looks good paired with small-leaved begonias.
Tree ferns - ‘Silver Lady’ is a nice dwarf form.
“We tried growing them on the island and other places after the hurricanes,” says American Begonia Society President Virginia Jens, “but it just wasn’t the same.” The new garden was planted by members of the Begonia Society of the Palm Beaches (BSPB) in May, 2013. The group has some 50 members, making it one of the largest chapters of the ABS in the country.
The new garden sits directly across from the Garden of Extremes, another recent addition that features drought-tolerant plants. This brilliant play of opposites, with shade-loving begonias on one side of the walkway and sun-worshipers on the other, underscores the importance of putting the right plant in the right place.
The ABS groups begonias into eight broad categories, with all but rex and tuberous types doing well in south Florida. The new begonia garden also includes shade-loving companion plants donated by members of BSPB, like Japanese painted fern, sansevierias and gingers.
The foliage of many begonias rival their flowers, Jens notes. She suggests pairing them so they offer interest and contrast even when plants aren’t blooming. Some in the garden with exceptional foliage include ‘Plum Gorgeous’, with leaves that seem to “glow” underneath when hit by sunlight; ‘Judy Cook’, a rex variety with silvery leaves; and ‘Bunny Hug’, with small leaves with a pinkish hue. The huge round leaves of ‘Boomer’ seem to flatten out even more as they age.
Lovely 'Kent Brandon' has two-toned pink flowers and silver-speckled foliage. Photo by Tom Hewitt
All begonias like shade to some degree. Generally speaking, the greener the leaf, the more sun they can handle. Many green-leaved rhizomatous and cane begonias can take several hours of sun a day. Dark-leaved rhizomatous, on the other hand, need complete shade. East and west-facing exposures are good for many species, since this affords them a half-day of sun. If you’re not sure how much light your begonia needs, grow it in a pot until you see how it acclimates.
Sweet begonia (B. odorata ‘Alba’) is positioned to get the most sun of any in the garden. “Morning and afternoon sun suits it perfectly,” Jens says, but cautions that even this variety likes protection from full sun during the hottest part of the day. This is the most common shrub begonia in south Florida, since it blooms nearly year-round. Its flowers are also aromatic to some degree, especially at night. B. odorata ’Rosea’ has white flowers with a pinkish tint.
Give begonias what they need, Jens says, and they’re really easy to grow. They like moist (but not wet) soils that are coarse, light and well-draining. Water in the morning, so leaves have time to dry before nightfall. Fertilize with any timed-release, balanced fertilizer, and use a liquid fertilizer like Peter’s for a quick, foliar feed.
That said, begonias are prone to several pests, though many can be discouraged by good cultural practices. Nematodes are particularly damaging to canes. If plants are well-fertilized but still show yellow leaves, nematodes could be the culprit. If so, take cuttings from the stems then throw the plant away. Jens advises enriching your soil with peat moss or compost to decrease these pests.
Snails can also be troublesome, especially during our wet, humid summers. Begonias are “filet mignon to snails,” Jens notes, and it sometimes takes chemical means to control them. Keep in mind that even though it seems natural to mix begonias and bromeliads in a shady garden, bromeliads (especially Aechmeas) harbor snails.
Birdbaths, benches and begonias make this a lovely place to relax. Photo by Tom Hewitt
The new begonia garden at Mounts isn’t just for begonia lovers. It’s a great place to sit in the shade, read a book or simply watch colorful blooms nodding sweetly with each passing breeze. Maybe it’s a good thing this place is still somewhat of a secret after all.
Tom Hewitt is a garden designer in West Palm Beach.
© 2014 Tom Hewitt. Originally published in Florida Gardening, Feb / Mar 2014. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 N. Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33415
(561) 233-1757