Begonia semperflorens Mascot Bicolour Improved

The Begonia semperflorens 'Mascot Bicolor Improved' stands out for the precocity of its flowering and its compact habit. This small annual begonia from the 'Mascot' series bears charming bicoloured flowers, salmon pink illuminated with white towards its centre. This variety will continue to bloom until the frosts on a very bushy plant that will not exceed 20 cm (8 in) in all directions. Its  large corollas compared to the size of the plant bloom above round and shiny dark green foliage. The 'Mascot' Begonia can be planted from April, in partial shade or even in full sun, in borders or in pots. It requires little maintenance, except for dead-heading from time to time.

The Begonia 'Mascot' is a herbaceous perennial plant that is not very hardy (it perishes below -4°C), grown as an annual, belonging to the Begonia family. It is derived from the Begonia semperflorens, a hybrid between two species native to Brazil. This variety is part of a series of recent hybrids selected for their compact and bushy habit and their early flowering characteristic. 'Mascot Bicolour' has stout and fleshy stems, covered with tough, rounded leaves of a beautiful shiny dark green colour, about 5 cm (2 in) in length. This highly branched plant will quickly reach 20 cm (8 in) in all directions. Appearing from the month of May and present until the first frosts, its flowers are asymmetrical, with wide-open cups, composed of rounded, salmon pink petals with a white base, arranged around a small yellow heart. Begonias are monoecious and bear flowers with exclusively male attributes (single flowers) and other female ones (double flowers). They are gathered in numerous terminal clusters.

The Begonia Mascot Bicolour Improved is used in borders, in troughs, balcony planters or in large flower pots. The Begonias in this Mascot series form a very beautiful ground cover of mixed varieties, in both sun and partial shade. For border planting, plan about 10 plants per m². They will blend well with light-coloured foliage and flowering plants such as lobelias, annual pennisetums, bacopas, bidens, but also with petunias. In a more exotic spirit, you can create a colourful scene by associating the Begonia with cannas or Hedychiums. Lastly, it is good to know that there are also hardy begonias such as Begonia grandis.

Please note: our young plants in mini-pots are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transfer and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14C° (>57.2 F) for a few weeks before planting outdoors once the risk of frosts has definitively passed.