White-flowered Begonia Fimbriata

The white-flowered Fringed Begonia is a tuberous begonia with a compact and bushy habit that is adorned with lovely, fully double flowers in the form of pure white pompoms. With their fringed and frizzy petals, they resemble those of certain carnations. This plant, which blooms continuously throughout the summer, is ideal for decorating terraces and balconies, as well as flower beds. Easy to grow, this begonia also has the advantage of tolerating the sun, unlike other varieties.

Begonias belong to the Begoniaceae family and can be tuberous or rhizomatous. Native to intertropical rainforests, they mainly come from South America, but also from Africa or Asia. In simple terms, 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, resulting in the loss of their leaves. This is the time for them to produce fruits and replenish nutrient reserves.

The white-flowered Fringed Begonia belongs to the category of tuberous plants. It blooms continuously from June-July to October. The plant will reach a maturity of about 30cm (12in) in width and 40cm (16in) in height, and it does not trail. Its foliage is deciduous, dark green, alternate, and velvety. The leaf blades are always asymmetrical, and the petioles have stipules at their base. The flower stalks are dark purple. The plant is herbaceous and often succulent. It will grow best if it receives a few hours of sunlight per day. The begonia prefers 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.

Begonia Fimbriata is a tender plant and therefore cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. For this reason, it is often grown in containers that can be easily brought indoors into heated greenhouses or a conservatory at the first frost. If it is planted in the ground, it is time to remove the tubers and store them in a sheltered place until the following spring. You can associate it with other orange, yellow, or white Fimbriata begonias in large flower pots, as well as at the edge of flower beds.