Begonia multiflora Bijou de Gand

We are witnessing the revival of one of the first varieties hybridized with the Begonia multiflora 'Bijou de Gand'. It is quite similar to the original Begonias discovered in the Andes in Peru and Bolivia in the late 19th century.

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. To put it simply, 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 experience a dry season, causing them to lose their leaves. This is the time for them to produce fruits and replenish their nutrient reserves.

Begonia multiflora 'Bijou de Gand' belongs to the category of tuberous plants. It blooms from July to October. It will reach a width of 30cm (12in) and a height of 40cm (16in) at maturity. It has inherited the compact habit of its Andean variety, of which it is the direct descendant. It is not trailing. In the early 20th century, it enjoyed long and undeniable success in gardens. Today, we rediscover it in France and Europe thanks to the constant work of many amateur and professional gardeners.

Begonia multiflora 'Bijou de Gand' has deciduous, dark green, alternate and velvety foliage. The laminae are always asymmetrical; the petioles have stipules at their base. The stalks carrying the flowers are dark purple. The flowers of this Begonia are a beautiful apricot colour. This somewhat retro variety bears the mark of a manifest dimorphism. Indeed, begonias are monoecious, meaning that on the same plant, some flowers bear exclusively male attributes and others female. Male flowers always appear first and are simple. Female flowers are larger and therefore much more remarkable. The plant is herbaceous and often succulent. It is a shade plant that will grow better if it receives a few hours of sunlight per day. It appreciates light soils rich in organic matter (well-decomposed garden compost) that do not retain moisture. Additionally, it is quite susceptible to powdery mildew and nematodes and requires regular but not excessive watering. Begonias are frost-sensitive plants, so they do not tolerate negative temperatures. For this reason, they are often grown in containers that can be easily brought indoors in heated greenhouses or under a veranda at the first frost. If planted in the ground, it is time to remove them and store them in a sheltered place until the following spring. In the meantime, they will be very well paired with the Trailing Begonia Belleconia Pink, its more modern alter ego, or beautiful orange or red Cannas.