Annual / color · North Texas care guide
Begonia semperflorens & 'Dragon Wing'
Nursery Pro tip: The shade-color workhorse. Dragon Wing takes sun too and blooms till frost.
The most dependable shade-to-sun annual we sell. Wax begonias make tidy 8–12 in mounds of red, pink or white over green or bronze leaves; 'Dragon Wing' and the big angel-wing types reach 18 in and cascade beautifully out of pots and baskets.
Part shade is ideal; bronze-leaf wax begonias take full sun here, green-leaf types prefer shade. Well-drained bed with compost. Space 10–12 in apart.
April, after the soil warms — they sulk if planted into cold ground. Root Stimulator at planting, light mulch.
Twice a week in beds, more in pots. They're succulent-stemmed and forgive a missed watering better than impatiens.
Slow-release at planting plus a light liquid feed every few weeks.
Practically self-cleaning. Pinch back any stretched stems in midsummer. 'Dragon Wing' can be cut back by a third in August for a strong fall finish.
Powdery mildew in crowded, still, shady spots — space them and water at the base. Stem rot in soggy beds. Frost ends them.
The reliable filler in shade beds and pots with caladiums, coleus and impatiens; bronze-leaf types in sun with vinca.
Written for Rockwall's black clay, heat and winters by the Landscape Source team. Every yard is different — bring a photo by, or ask LS-Ai, and we'll tailor it to your spot.