Begonia × tuberhybrida mix of 5 colours - yellow, red, white, salmon, pink tuberous begonias Superba

The Begonia × tuberhybrida Superba 5 Colours Mix brings together tuberous begonias with very large double flowers, in a palette of five coordinated colours. These are compact plants and not trailing, which adapt well to decorating pots and planters, but also to slightly shaded borders.

A member of the Begoniaceae family, Begonia × tuberhybrida results from historical hybridisations between Andean species such as B. boliviensis, B. veitchii and B. pearcei; these species were introduced to Europe in the 19th century and then crossed by breeders like Veitch and Seden to create lines with spectacular flowering adapted to temperate summers.
The horticultural denomination Superba groups cultivars with an upright habit and large double flowers. This collection is a mix of five colours. Each plant forms a small clump 30–40 cm in height with a 20–30 cm spread, from a flattened tuber serving as a storage organ; the vegetation renews itself each year. The fleshy stems are brittle and sensitive to wind. The 8 to 15 cm long leaves are asymmetrical and heart-shaped, medium glossy green with finely toothed margins. Flowering extends from June to October; the double flowers with very full cups reminiscent of an open rose, reach 10–15 cm in diameter. They are yellow, red, white, salmon and pink, depending on the plant. The inflorescences are born in the leaf axils and renew themselves in waves. The vegetation is destroyed by the first frosts, and the tubers must be overwintered dry between 5 and 10 °C.

In pots in partial shade, you can group these Superba begonias with Heuchera ‘Caramel’ and Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’. In a border, alternate with blue clumps of Hosta ‘Halcyon’ and Fuchsia ‘Tom Thumb’, for example. In a large planter, these begonias will pair well with the white corollas of Impatiens Sunpatiens compact white.

The rise of tuberous begonias in Europe followed the introductions of Andean species by collectors from the Veitch house and the successful crosses they obtained from the 1870s onwards. These hybrids popularised tuberous begonias in horticultural exhibitions.