Begonia × tuberhybrida Camelia - Tuberous begonia

Begonia Camellia produces large, double, rounded flowers, reminiscent of camellia blooms. Valued for its rose and white "picotee" colouring, this small plant decorates shaded planters and borders from summer until the first frosts. Its long flowering period and low maintenance make it a reliable variety for decorating patios and windowsills.

Belonging to the Begoniaceae family, this cultivar is part of the vast horticultural group Begonia × tuberhybrida, a complex hybrid created in Europe in the 19th century from Andean species; the term 'Camelliiflora' is sometimes encountered to describe its flower type.
'Camellia' is not a botanical species, but a double-flowered cultivar, offered in a salmon-pink colour with a fine white margin. The plant forms an upright to slightly spreading clump, originating from a flattened tuber which sends up several fleshy shoots each spring. It reaches between 25 and 30 cm in height with a spread of 25–35 cm. The stems are succulent and fragile, green to reddish depending on the light. The deciduous foliage consists of large, asymmetrical, pointed leaves, 10 to 15 cm long, of a medium glossy green, with finely toothed margins and prominent veins.
The flowers, both male and female, are on the same plant. They appear from June to October. In this double begonia, the male flowers are 10-12 cm across with numerous overlapping tepals. They are salmon-pink or coral, edged with a white border (picotee effect); the female flowers are single and smaller. Being sensitive to frost, the tubers must be overwintered at 5/8 °C after the foliage has yellowed.

Plant this 'Camellia' begonia in pots or in a shaded border, in a humus-rich, well-draining mix. Provide it with gentle morning light and protection from the wind. Pair it with architectural foliage: dwarf hosta Party Streamers, heuchera Guacamole, carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ and a hardy fuchsia like ‘Riccartonii’ in the background.

The genus name Begonia pays tribute to Michel Bégon, the Naval Intendant at Rochefort, so named by Charles Plumier and later adopted by Linnaeus. The development of modern tuberous begonias is linked to the spectacular introductions of Andean species in the 19th century by collectors such as Richard Pearce for the Veitch nursery, which paved the way for the large-flowered hybrids so popular today.