Begonia × tuberhybrida Superba Yellow - Tuberous begonia

Begonia x tuberhybrida Superba Yellow is a spectacular tuberous Begonia, remarkable for the size and colour of its flowers. Throughout the summer and into autumn, it produces very large, double flowers of a resplendent, bright yellow, which stand out sharply against the dark green foliage. Thriving in partially shaded situations, this plant brightens them up for long months with its numerous flowers, each like a little sun. A humus-bearing, moist yet well-drained soil suits it well, as does a sheltered position protected from wind, as its stems are quite brittle. In a pot or container, it will form a magnificent flowering display. Overwinter the tuber frost-free and dry for regrowth the following spring.

Named in honour of Michel Bégon, a great 17th-century plant collector, Begonia gave its name to the Begoniaceae family. This family contains only one other genus, Hillebrandia, represented by a single Hawaiian species. The Begonia genus, however, comprises over 2000 species, mainly distributed in warm, humid tropical zones. Consequently, many of them are prized as houseplants in our latitudes. The tuberous Begonia is therefore an exception, as its tuber is a storage organ that allows it to withstand colder temperatures, down to 0°C. Resulting from the cross-breeding of various South American species, Begonia x tuberhybrida is thus very interesting for garden flowering, as it can be left in place until October, depending on the region.
Begonia Superba Yellow is a yellow-flowered version of the Superba horticultural series, which groups cultivars with large, upright flowers. At the end of winter, its tuber produces new fleshy stems bearing handsome, fairly dark green, asymmetrical leaves with toothed margins. The leaf surface is glossy, making them attractive even before the flowers appear from June onwards. The flowers are so large, up to around ten centimetres in diameter, and so numerous, that they largely eclipse the foliage. The clump, which then measures roughly 30 cm in height and as much in width, becomes covered in superb double flowers, with overlapping petals like those of some camellias. The flower buds emerge in pinkish tones, opening later into a rosette of bright yellow, slightly paler around the edge of the floral corolla. The flowers are renewed until September, or even October, particularly if care is taken to remove spent flowers to prevent the plant from exhausting itself by forming seeds. Regular feed will also be welcome, as producing such an abundance of large flowers is a process that requires a lot of energy from the plant. If left outdoors, the aerial parts will freeze as soon as the temperature drops below 0°C, which is why the tuber must be retrieved for overwintering in a sheltered, dry place.

Begonia x tuberhybrida Superba Yellow is a must-have for summer to autumn flowering, particularly suited to partially shaded situations. You can plant it in a border in open ground or create a flowering pot, or, on a terrace sheltered from full sun, plant it in a large bowl alongside other plants with similar needs. Foliage plants will allow you to create lovely contrasts, such as Coleus, whose velvety leaves are adorned with a thousand colours. Oxalis triangularis will also be a good companion, with its curious leaf cut into purple triangles and its delicate summer flowering of white tinged with pink. Lobelia erinus 'Regatta Deep Blue', with its multitude of small blue flowers and trailing habit, will combine wonderfully with your Begonia.