Begonia boliviensis Copacabana Tricolour coated seeds

Begonia boliviensis Copacabana F1 Tricolour is a trailing tuberous begonia that stands out with its tricolour flowering in shades of apricot, cream and yellow. This hybrid cultivar combines fine, naturally branching growth, generous flowering and great flexibility for growing in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets. It forms a soft, light cascade, with a decorative play of pastel tones.

Sown under cover from pelleted seeds, Copacabana F1 Tricolour seeds make it easy to produce a large number of young plants to brighten up the patio or balcony from early summer until the first frosts.

The Bolivian begonia belongs to the Begoniaceae family. The botanical species Begonia boliviensis, also known as the Andes begonia, is native to the well-watered slopes of the Andes mountain range, particularly the central and southern regions of Bolivia and north-western Argentina. It is a frost-tender perennial that forms a fleshy tuber from which new stems emerge each year.
The Copacabana F1 series, to which this Salmon colourway belongs, was selected by the Czech seed house Černý Seed. It is a range of Bolivian begonias grown from seed, capable of rivalling trailing varieties propagated by cuttings. Plants in this series share a compact habit in the early stages of growth, excellent branching, bell-shaped flowers of 6 to 7cm, and a pronounced trailing habit in hanging baskets. Copacabana F1 Tricolour is characterised by an original colourway and a slightly more compact habit than the other colours in the series.
The young plants first form a small rosette of bright green leaves, then upright, fine, highly branched stems that eventually arch over and trail. Copacabana F1 Tricolour reaches 30 to 40cm in height and 40 to 50cm in spread; in a hanging basket, the stems easily trail 60 to 70cm in good conditions. The foliage, typical of begonias, is asymmetrical: the leaves are lanceolate, finely toothed, 8 to 12 cm long, in a clear green that sets off the light shades of the flowers to perfection. Flowering begins 14 to 17 weeks after sowing and then continues until October. The larger male flowers bear a cluster of yellow stamens, while the smaller female flowers have a winged ovary that develops into small capsules filled with very fine seeds.

Copacabana F1 Tricolour tolerates neither frost nor excess moisture in winter. In our climate, this begonia is generally grown as an annual from seed or tubers, or the tubers can be stored dry and frost-free, after allowing the foliage to die back naturally in autumn.

In window boxes or hanging baskets, the Bolivian Begonia Copacabana F1 Tricolour combines well with Ipomoea 'Illusion Midnight Lace', with its black foliage,  sweet potato 'Paradise Makatea' and Calibrachoa Superbells 'Holy Cow' with its small tricolour trumpets in yellow, pink and white. A few plants of Sanvitalia speciosa 'Million Suns' complete the display with a shower of tiny golden-yellow daisies. Together, these plants will create dense yet visually very light summer displays.