Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana

Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana is the only species of botanical Begonia capable of withstanding strong frosts in open ground. With exuberant vegetation, made up of large leaves of an almost phosphorescent green tinged with purple, this extraordinary plant brings to life lightly shaded areas from July to October, continuously producing a multitude of small flowers in a pretty, fairly bright pearly pink. Mrs. Evans's perennial Begonia is an ornamental plant, undoubtedly graceful, perfect for embellishing all slightly shaded and cool areas of the garden. It is splendid in a flowering pot.

Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana is a perennial plant with a swollen and tuberous base, belonging to the Begoniaceae family. It originates from the humid and cool forests of China. From its base, which expands over the years, fleshy, slightly succulent, jointed stems with a reddish tint emerge quite late in spring, in April-May. Together, they form a bushy clump reaching a height of up to 80cm (32in) and a minimum width of 50cm (20in). The stems bear large, thick, ovate leaves with an elongated heart shape, light green on the upper side but pale red with prominent wine-red veins on the underside. The leaves can reach over 15cm (6in) in length and 10cm (4in) in width. Bulblets or, more precisely, mini tubercles, which will contribute to the dispersal of this Begonia, emerge from the leaf axils.

In mid-summer, around July, the plant begins to produce a rich, bright pink flowering carried by reddish stems, which will only stop with the arrival of the first frosts. The very small flowers borne on slender peduncles are grouped in clusters. They give way to trailing fruits, triangular in shape and pink in colour, almost as decorative as the flowers. In autumn, due to the cold, the vegetation of Begonia grandis decomposes and disappears. The plant enters a dormant state, with only its tuberous base remaining underground throughout winter. The bulblets that form as early as September in the leaf axils fall to the ground and take root in spring. These 'babies' often flower in their first year.

Begonias are frost-sensitive and is cultivated in pots indoors. But not this one! In over 10 years of cultivating Begonia grandis, it has experienced winters at -18°C (1°F) without flinching. It prefers semi-shade, rich, cool, and even moist soils in summer, preferably acidic to neutral. It is interesting to associate this plant, which regrows quite late in spring, with spring bulbs that will occupy the space in late winter, such as snowdrops, narcissus, tulips, and anemones... It can also be paired with plants that prefer cool to moist shade, such as Rodgersias, lungworts, ferns, Impatiens omeiana, and Impatiens qingchanganica, or with Isodon longituba. It will also look beautiful in front of Hydrangeas, among toad lilies (Tricyrtis), and Hellebores.