June 11, 2008

‘bonfire,’ a begonia to believe in

Filed Under annuals & perennials, hot p(l)ants, houseplants

I BELIEVE IN BEGONIAS for their cooperative spirit. Many possess an indoor-outdoor versatility, living happily with me (well, at least nobody’s said anything otherwise) in house and garden season to season. Even if I hadn’t been a Begonia Believer before, I would have converted instantly when I met ‘Bonfire’ (seen with a very old, very happy Javanese Buddha carved from volcanic rock, who seems even happier since ‘Bonfire’ moved in). Do you know ‘Bonfire?’

Apparently it will grow to be quite a large and spectacular creature, though I don’t have my own photo of that stage yet. Like most of the begonias I grow, ‘Bonfire’ has beautiful foliage, and even its stems are showy, with flushes of bronzy-pink to them. Also in true begonia fashion, it doesn’t want to be soggy but prefers well-drained conditions, and should be allowed to dry between waterings and will stand up to dry periods.

The Australian company that developed it, Anthony Tesselaar (who also brought us showy ‘Tropicanna’ canna and ‘Flower Carpet’ roses), says it can take sun or part shade, but doesn’t offer any “bringing it indoors in winter” instructions. I guess I will be coming up with my own protocol on that score. Anybody grown it and have any advice?

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Comments

21 Responses to “‘bonfire,’ a begonia to believe in”

peter on June 11th, 2008 6:18 am

Hi Margaret,
I need to check the tags and make sure mine is a “Bonfire” (I think it is). I got it late last summer and I treated like a tuberous Begonia. I let it go dorment and stored it (in its pot) in the basement with my B. sutherlandii. Both are going strong and in full flower right now.

Belated Happy Birthday!
-Peter in Michigan
Dee/reddirtramblings on June 11th, 2008 8:02 am

I haven’t grown it yet, but it looks good. I like how it has that lanky foliage, and I think red is great in the garden. The Buddha does look happier.

Happy Birthday. Looking forward to your surprises.~~Dee
Ted on June 11th, 2008 1:01 pm

I grew it last year and put in a sunny window sill for the winter. It became rather leggy and not very happy. It’s starting to turn around a bit though not as nice as the ones I see for sale around.

There seems to be a great resurgance in begonias on the market, to my great pleasure. I’m particulary excited about ‘Sinbad’, and angel leaf type.
margaret on June 12th, 2008 6:33 am

Thanks to all on this…kind of makes sense that something so succulent looking would want to rest (as Peter suggests he did with it) rather than keep growing (as Ted seems to confirm wasn’t ideal). We will keep gathering advice, hopefully, and have all summer to get the details down.
Layanee on June 12th, 2008 4:26 pm

I did bring mine in last fall for the winter and it promptly went dormant. It is blooming quite nicely, if a bit leggy (time to trim), right now. I did have it in a greenhouse condition with overhead glass so I guess you would need supplemental lighting to keep it in flower through the winter.
Nancy on June 13th, 2008 3:29 pm

Purchased a beautiful Bonfire in May. First time I’ve ever seen one. No one can pass by w/o remarking on it’s beauty. Should I cut it all the way down in the fall before storing in basement?
margaret on June 13th, 2008 4:52 pm

Welcome, Nancy, to A Way to Garden. I am hoping Peter from Michigan will tell us more about his technique…or that another visitor who has succeeded will give us newcomers to ‘Bonfire’ some expert advice. At least it’s not the night before frost yet. Stay tuned!
ed on June 14th, 2008 8:49 pm

It’s simply a compact Begonia boliviensis w/ a catchy, marketable name. It’s hardy to somewhere in USDA Z7, and I keep mine just above freezing as a dormant tuber for the winter
margaret on June 14th, 2008 9:15 pm

Welcome, Ed. In case you check back in and can advise us further, do you cut it back in fall after letting frost take the foliage/stems or or leave it as is and put it in the conditions you suggest?
Phillip on June 16th, 2008 3:59 pm

I discovered this wonderful plant last year at Home Depot of all places and had it in mind this year for a prominent pot in my garden. Well, of course, HD didn’t have it this year! I should have known better and went ahead and ordered it by mail. I will know better next year. It was wonderful in my garden last year.
margaret on June 16th, 2008 9:19 pm

Welcome, Phillip, and good to hear your anecdote (even if a bit sad…sorry for your loss). I enjoyed my trip to your blog as well as a result. See you soon again!
benjia morgenstern on June 19th, 2008 12:18 pm

I just bought 2 at my local nursery in Salisbury, CT..They are potted up and sitting along side my trellis looking youthful but beautifully promising..I Winter in Florida and if all goes well..that’s where they will winter over! Thanxs for the tips..benjia
robert on June 20th, 2008 7:26 am

Hi Margaret, just sold the last of these at work (Loomis Creek) it’s been one of our hits this season. We kept it over in the greenhouse and it never stopped blooming all winter…now it’s traffic-stopping with two foot sprays of flowers in its second year. It does seem to form a tuberous root or bulb but is much more vigorous than the plain B. boliviensis we’ve had in the past. Great plant!
margaret on June 20th, 2008 7:35 am

Thanks, Robert, and welcome. I am just wondering where I will fit the thing in winter, hmmm….
Amy on June 21st, 2008 1:28 pm

I grow Begonia boliviensis in my garden in Berkeley CA. It dies back to a fantasic pancake tuber. It gets bigger and more fabulous each year!
margaret on June 21st, 2008 2:16 pm

Welcome, Amy, with news of the Bolivian pancakes! Now I am getting all excited about my life ahead with this plant in the family.
cindee11461 on June 22nd, 2008 12:58 am

I have not tried this plant but I want to after seeing the pictures. Yours looks very happy. I have had the fibrous begonias come back after wintering in the garden.I guess it depends on how cold the winter gets. I will watch for this one at my local nursery!!
margaret on June 22nd, 2008 5:33 am

Welcome, Cindee. No fibrous begonias overwintering in these parts, let me tell you. And I suspect ‘Bonfire’ will be snuggling in the house with me when the time comes, or sleeping in the basement with the cannas and dahlias and such. Hope to see you soon again.
Sue on July 3rd, 2008 12:00 pm

I also saw this plant for the first time this year. Couldn’t resist — doing wonderfully on my balcony despite the extreme heat of top-floor, east-facing. In Minnesota, so I will be bringing it in for the winter. Love it; don’t want to lose it; so, I’m checking for seed pods and also thinking of trying to root from cuttings. Anyone know if this will be successful?
margaret on July 3rd, 2008 12:34 pm

Welcome, Sue, to the Bonfire Appreciation Society and A Way to Garden. Haven’t tried any of the above personally so will await any insights from others along w/you.
Kathy on July 14th, 2008 6:57 pm

Hi Margaret, I am a little late with this reply but I want to put my vote in for the Bonfire begonia. I bought two last year but could not find any this summer. Back to pulling up Houttuynia!

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I was so blessed to visit and document many of the nation’s finest homemade gardens for 15 years for ‘Martha Stewart Living,’ first as its garden editor and then as editorial director for the company. The list of places we were proud to publish included my own upstate New York home a few years back. Take a tour of how it looked then. Want to know more about me? Or read what Anne Raver said in June in The New York Times, calling A Way to Garden “the best (garden blog) I’d ever seen.”
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CLEAR TURF OR WEEDS from the area right around the trunks of fruit trees and ornamentals to reduce winter damage by rodents. Hardware cloth collars should be in place year-round as well.

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REPLANT YOUR BIGGEST CLOVES from heads of harvested garlic for best yield, or hurry and order a supply and plant now (about a month before frost is in the ground). Prepare a sunny spot, and plant each clove 1-2 inches deep and 6 inches apart in the row, with about 12 inches between rows. Green growth will happen this fall, which is great; don’t panic. It’s a hardy thing.

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START A POT OF PAPERWHITES in potting soil or pebbles and water, and stagger forcing more every couple of weeks for a winterlong display.

REST AMARYLLIS BULBS by putting them in a dry, dark place where they will have no water at all for a couple of months. I put mine in a little-used closet.

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THE SAYING GOES THAT a thing of beauty is a joy forever. I guess “forever” in this case is in the mind’s eye. My darling, oldest bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) went down for the count in July, or at least half of it did, and I had already seen the death knell for a couple of my 10 crabapples. Jeez.

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can-do pruning
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the ‘other’ peonies
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anything but forsythia
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