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Begonia 'John Smith' (T)

begonia 'John Smith'

A tender, rounded, bushy perennial with large green veined foliage and rose-like large, double rose-scented apricot-orange flowers which are slightly ruffled at the edges, appearing from spring through to autumn

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1B

Botanical details

Family: Begoniaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Begonia can be annuals, evergreen or deciduous perennials or shrubs, with fibrous, tuberous or rhizomatous roots and usually asymmetrical leaves, often strikingly patterned, and small or large flowers, both male and female in the same cluster
Name status: Accepted
Horticultural Group: Tuberhybrida begonias are bushy tuberous perennials with glossy leaves and usually double flowers in small clusters in summer; most are dormant in winter

How to grow

Cultivation

Ideal for hanging baskets and tubs, and generally bought as cuttings. Start off indoors in spring in light, well-drained, neutral compost. May be grown permanently under glass in bright light shaded from direct sun. Otherwise move outdoors into a sunny or semi-shaded postion when all risk of frost is past. Dry off tubers in winter and store frost free. See begonia: outdoors for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by basal or stem-tip softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
hanging basket
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove old stems and foliage as the plant dies back for winter

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars, mealybugs, thrips, glasshouse red spider mite, vine weevil and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds, powdery mildews, stem rot and rhizome rot

Get involved

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