Begonie Stonehedge™ Light Pink Bronze Leaf - Begonia x hybrida

The Begonia Stonehedge™ Light Pink Bronze Leaf is the first interspecific hybrid of Begonia multiflora. It excels in every aspect: very large, tall and wide, perfectly round, particularly branched and vigorous, it is also very early and floriferous. The foliage is bronze and beautifully enhances the soft pink flowers, with yellow stamens. It can reach a height of 1 m with a width of 70 cm in the ground, but also thrives when planted in a large pot. "Self-cleaning," it is also highly heat resistant.

Begonias belong to the Begoniaceae family and can be tuberous or rhizomatous. Originating from intertropical rainforests, they mainly come from South America, but also from Africa or Asia. Simply put, rhizomatous Begonias are those that continuously grow in the forest and do not experience a dry season. Tuberous Begonias, on the other hand, live in the same areas but at higher altitudes on slightly brighter sites and undergo a dry season resulting in leaf loss. This is the time for them to produce fruits and replenish nutrient reserves.

Stonehedge™ Light Pink Bronze Leaf belongs to the tuberous plant category. It forms a plant characterized by a flat tuber, 4 to 10 cm wide, which is in vegetative rest from October to March-April, and in growth from April to October. Spring sees the emergence of new stems from the upper zone of the tuber, quickly producing leaves and flowers. It blooms from June to October. It will mature to a width of up to 70 cm and a height of 1 m. It is not trailing. It has deciduous, bronze, and glossy foliage. The leaf blades are always asymmetrical; the petioles have stipules at their base.

This Begonia thrives equally well in full sun as in a shaded area. Tuberous Begonias require a temperature between 10 and 25°C to develop properly. It is recommended to plant them in rich, slightly moist soil. In early spring, as nights are cool, it is best to cultivate them indoors four to eight weeks before moving them outside around May-June, when nighttime temperatures are above 10°C. Once outside, with regular watering, they will bloom all summer. At the end of autumn, it is necessary to remove the clumps or bring the pots indoors, let the foliage dry, then extract the tubers from the soil, brush them, and store them in a dry place until the following spring.

With its dense growth habit, Light Pink Bronze Leaf is an excellent plant for flower beds or large pots on the terrace. It can be grown as an indoor or conservatory plant. For a charming touch, one can even cut flower heads and float them in bowls of water. The flowers are edible, but do not consume more than two per day. Remember to remove faded flowers to encourage blooming.