Wax Begonia
Ever-blooming, heat tolerant, rabbit and deer resistant, self-cleaning, few insect or disease problems.
Grow Wax Begonias for Nonstop Summer Blooms
If you could somehow combine a succulent with an impatiens plant, it would probably look a lot like a wax begonia. But unlike most impatiens, wax begonias grow as well in full sunlight as they do in shade, making them one of the most versatile plants in the garden. What’s more, these tough little plants are a breeze to care for and need little more than occasional watering during dry weather.
Wish you could enjoy wax begonias year-round? You can! A wax begonia is fibrous-rooted, which means it doesn’t go through a period of dormancy like its tuberous-rooted cousins. In the fall, simply pot up your begonias and grow them as houseplants indoors, where they will bloom continuously under the right conditions. (Learn more about growing different types of begonias.)
On this page:
BASICS
Botanical name:
Begonia semperflorens (semperflorens means “always flowering”) and Begonia x benariensis
Hardiness Zones:
9-11, typically grown as an annual or houseplant
Growth habit:
Height/spread:
6 to 24 inches tall and wide
Exposure:
Shade to full sun
Bloom time:
Late spring until frost
Flowers:
Single or double flowers up to 2 inches across come in shades of red, pink, or white. Most have prominent yellow stamens.
Foliage:
The rounded, waxy leaves are usually green or bronze, but you can also find hybrids with variegated foliage.
Special attributes:
Ever-blooming, heat tolerant, rabbit and deer resistant, self-cleaning, few insect or disease problems.
PLANTING WAX BEGONIAS
Surefire® Red begonia (center). Photo by: Proven Winners.
When to plant:
In late spring, after all threat of frost has passed and when temperatures stay above 50 degrees F at night.
Where to plant:
A location that receives partial shade is best, but plants will also tolerate full sun. In hot southern climates, protect plants from harsh afternoon sunlight.
How to plant:
Wax begonias are easiest to grow from nursery-grown plants transplanted into the garden in spring. Begonias can also be planted from seed, but because the seeds have a long germination period, you’ll need to start them indoors about 12 weeks before the last expected frost date.
Soil:
Grow in fertile, well-draining soil amended with organic matter.
Spacing:
To ensure good air circulation, space plants at least 8 to 12 inches apart, depending on their size at maturity.
WAX BEGONIA CARE
Surefire® Rose begonia. Photo by: Proven Winners.
Watering:
Because the leaves and stems of wax begonias are thick and succulent-like, established plants don’t need constant moisture and can even withstand short periods of drought.
As a general rule of thumb, give plants about an inch of water per week and allow the soil to dry out slightly before watering again. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot and cause the stems to turn mushy.
When growing plants in containers, water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. Make sure the pot has drainage holes so the soil doesn’t become soggy.
Amendments and fertilizer:
Apply a balanced water-soluble fertilizer once a month during the growing season or a slow-release fertilizer at planting time. To help conserve soil moisture, top dress the soil after planting with a layer of organic mulch.
Pruning:
Pruning of wax begonias is rarely needed to maintain their nice, mounded shape. If necessary, pinch back plants lightly if they become too leggy. Wax begonias are also self-cleaning, so there’s no need to remove spent flowers to ensure continuous blooms.
Winter protection:
If you want to bring your wax begonias indoors for overwintering, put them in a window with bright filtered light, avoiding direct sunlight if your plants were growing outdoors in the shade. Because wax begonias never go dormant, keep the soil slightly moist and fertilize lightly throughout the winter months. Once warmer temperatures return in spring, you can move your plants back outside. Get more tips for overwintering begonias.
Pests and diseases:
Keep an eye out for mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Plants may also be susceptible to botrytis blight and powdery mildew, which can be avoided by providing good air circulation around your plants.
WAX BEGONIA PICTURES
Photo by: Proven Winners
Double Up™ White — Buy now from Proven Winners
Begonia semperflorens
Size:
8 to12 to 24 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
A stunning combination of double white flowers and dark bronze, almost black foliage on dense, globe-shaped plants. Will bloom all summer without deadheading and can tolerate some drought. Other flower colors in the Double Up™ series include pink and red.
Photo by: Proven Winners
Surefire® Rose — Buy now from Proven Winners
Begonia benariensis
Size:
8 to 12 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
Pretty rose-colored flowers pair beautifully with bronze-tinted dark green leaves. A heat-tolerant variety suitable for full sun or shade. Also try Surefire® Red, which has green foliage and vibrant red blooms.
Photo by: Blik Sergey / Shutterstock
Super Olympia® White
Begonia ‘Super Olympia White’
Size:
8 to 10 inches tall and wide
The Super Olympia® series offers classic colors of red, rose, white, and pink blooms held above glossy, dark green foliage. Boasts larger flowers than most varieties. Ideal for edging, massing, or containers.
Photo by: Nattanan Kloenprathom / Shutterstock
‘Ambassador Pink’
Begonia semperflorens
Size:
10 to 12 inches tall and wide
A beautiful green-leaf begonia with soft pink flowers. Prefers partial sun, but also grows well in full sun and hot conditions if kept well-watered.
Photo by: InfoFlowersPlant / Shutterstock
‘Doublet Red’
Begonia ‘Doublet Red’
Size:
10 to 12 inches tall and wide
A real showstopper, with frilly rose-like flowers accented by dark green foliage with hints of bronze. Covered by masses of flowers all season, from midspring to midfall.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do wax begonias like sun or shade? Wax begonias adapt well to different light requirements and will thrive in both both sunny and shaded garden beds, making them a great unifying plant. Varieties with bronze foliage tend to fare better in direct sun than those with green leaves. Although wax begonias can be grown in full shade, they may become scraggly and not flower as vigorously.
Is wax begonia an annual or a perennial? Like impatiens, wax begonias are tender perennials that are treated as annuals in climates where they might be exposed to frost.
Do wax begonias come back every year? Because wax begonias are not frost tolerant, they won’t come back each year unless they are overwintered indoors. You will need to start new plants in the spring.
Do wax begonias spread? No. Wax begonias are non-invasive, clump-forming plants and will not spread like rhizomatous begonias.
Can wax begonias survive winter? Only in the mildest climates (zones 9-11). Otherwise, pot them up in fall for indoor blooms. You can move your potted plants back outdoors once warm weather returns in spring.
Do wax begonias make good houseplants? Yes, they are beautiful and easy-to-grow indoor plants and will often bloom all year long if grown in a bright, sunny window or under artificial lights. Learn more about growing begonias as houseplants.
Are wax begonias poisonous? Yes, all types of begonias are mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, according to the ASPCA. Although the most toxic parts of the plant are beneath the soil, it’s still best to keep wax begonias out of reach of pets, particularly when growing plants indoors.
Wax Begonia
Few indoor plants bloom nearly non-stop like wax begonia. It’s actually a tender perennial that will grow and flower year-round indoors. Put your begonia in a bright, warm spot and you’ll enjoy an ongoing show of colorful, cheerful flowers.
About Wax Begonia Plants
The begonia family includes more than 1,000 species and 10,000 hybrids and cultivars. Ongoing hybridization improves these beautiful flowering house plants. Newer hybrids are more compact with more — and bigger — blooms than we’ve ever seen.
Many varieties are available with white and many shades of pink and red flowers. When buying a new flowering plant, choose one that has good bud color and has just started to bloom. You’ll find these plants sold as wax begonia or bedding begonia.
Round, thick, waxy leaves give this beautiful flowering plant its common name. They’re typically dark-green and may be tinged with bronze. Some hybrids have burgundy leaves or are variegated with white.
These prolific bloomers stay small, so grow several in a large pot for big impact. Or place a few small pots together.
Caring for Wax Begonia Indoors: Solutions and Special Helps
Keep the soil moist. Allowing it to dry out will leave it susceptible to disease. But you don’t want soggy soil, either. Overwatering your begonia will cause leaves to wilt and turn yellow. Cut off any affected leaves as soon as you notice them. They’re likely to rot and attract fungus.
Brown leaves? Cool temps and soggy soil will cause leaves to become soft and turn brown. Cut off brown, wilted leaves because they may attract fungus.
Watch for fungus. The moist conditions begonias love make them prone to powdery mildew — a powdery white fungus that appears on the foliage. Spray an affected plant with a fungicide and keep it away from other plants to prevent it from spreading.
Shed some light. Give your begonia plenty of bright light year-round. Plants that don’t bloom aren’t getting enough sunlight.
Prune your plant. Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Also cut back the foliage occasionally to keep it looking neat.
Raise the humidity. Begonias will suffer in the dry air of a heated home in winter. Keep them away from air vents and drafts. If the relative humidity drops below 50%, place your begonia on a tray of wet pebbles or use a cool-mist room humidifier.
Repot in spring. Move your wax begonia to a slightly larger pot, if it is getting top-heavy or if you see roots growing through the drainage hole in the bottom. Use a pot that’s only 1-inch (2.5 cm) bigger than the old one. Begonias bloom best when their roots are a little snug in the pot, so you’ll get more flowers this way. When potting your begonia, don’t pack down the potting mix; keep it loose around the plant’s roots.
Wax Begonia Care Tips
Origin: Hybrids
Height: 6-12 in (15-30 cm)
Light: Bright, indirect light. Begonias grow well under fluorescent lights, too. If you move your begonia outdoors for the summer, keep it shaded from hot, direct sun.
Water: Keep soil evenly moist all year. Overwatering will cause leaves to turn yellow. Use a pot with a drainage hole and allow top 1-inch (2.5 cm) of the potting mix to dry before watering again.
Humidity: Try to maintain 40-50% relative humidity around your begonias. Keep pot on a tray of wet pebbles to increase humidity.
Temperature: Cool nights (60°F/16°C) and warm days (65-75°F/18-24°C) will trigger flower buds. Begonias will tolerate a minimum winter temperature of 55°F/13°C. If you moved your plant outdoors for the season, overwinter it indoors.
Soil: Peat moss based potting mix with added perlite for faster drainage. African violet potting mix is ideal.
Fertilizer: A steady diet of weak fertilizer will keep begonias happy. Feed monthly with a high-phosphorus (10-20-10 NPK) water-soluble fertilizer diluted by half.
Propagation: Take 3- to 4-inch (8-10 cm) stem cuttings in spring and root in fresh potting mix. Keep soil lightly moist. Cover the whole container and plant with a plastic bag or cloche to hold in humidity. Wax begonia seeds are tiny and slow to germinate. You can sow seeds in spring, but they can take several months to grow and bloom.
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