Begonia boliviensis Copacabana Orange coated seeds

The Bolivian Begonia Copacabana F1 Orange is a trailing tuberous begonia that offers a spectacular cascade of bright orange bell-shaped flowers all summer long. Derived from the species Begonia boliviensis, this hybrid cultivar stands out for its vigour, its abundant flowering and a good tolerance to sun, rain, as well as the occasional missed watering. In hanging baskets, window boxes or large pots, it quickly forms a very bright, trailing cushion that can be seen from afar.

Sowing under cover from coated seeds, which are easier to handle, allows you to obtain many young plants of this cultivar at a lower cost, while remaining accessible to the careful gardener, even those with little experience.

Botanically speaking, the Bolivian Begonia belongs to the Begoniaceae family. The type species, Begonia boliviensis, also known as the Bolivian tuberous begonia or Andean begonia, is native to the Bolivian Andes and northwestern Argentina. A tuberous perennial in its native habitat, it is grown in our latitudes as a frost-tender perennial or, most often, as an annual.
The Copacabana F1 series was selected by the Czech seed company Cerny Seed as an alternative to trailing begonias propagated by cuttings. Marketed in the early 2010s, it includes several colours (orange, salmon, red, white, yellow and tricolour), all characterised by a compact habit, generous flowering and an ability to adapt to a variety of growing conditions.
The plants form a dense clump within a few weeks, at first somewhat upright, then well-branched and trailing. Copacabana F1 Orange reaches 35 to 40cm in height and 40 to 50cm in width; in a hanging basket, its supple stems easily trail 50 to 60cm. The bright green foliage consists of narrow, asymmetrical, lanceolate and finely toothed, 8 to 12cm long leaves. The flowering period extends from June to October. Allow 14 to 17 weeks between sowing and the first flowers. The pendulous inflorescences arise from the leaf axils. Each flower, shaped like an elongated bell, measures 6 to 7cm in length. The narrow tepals are intense orange, lightening more or less towards the throat, curling back slightly. As with all begonias, male and female flowers coexist on the same plant: the larger males bear a cluster of stamens, the females a winged ovary that will produce small capsules filled with seeds.

On the terrace or balcony, Begonia boliviensis Copacabana F1 Orange can be used in hanging baskets, window boxes and large pots where its trailing silhouette creates a veritable orange firework display. Plant it in a rich, light potting compost, always moist but well-drained, sheltered from the wind. You can pair it with the almost black purple foliage of Ipomoea 'Sweet Heart Jet Black' and Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' which weaves a veil of small white flowers around it. To create even more abundant hanging baskets, add Bacopa 'Scopia Double Indigo' and a few Begonia 'Summerwings Orange' plants.

Botanically and historically, Begonia boliviensis has played an important role: introduced to Europe in 1864 by the English collector Richard Pearce, it was presented in Paris in 1867 and served as a parent to some of the first tuberous begonia hybrids that made the genus so popular. In its native regions, its tubers are sometimes eaten after cooking, but this use remains very marginal; we grow the plant purely for ornamental purposes.