Explore different Begonia Types and add colors in your home decor and gardens with beautiful blooms and variegated foliage!
Begonias have gained much popularity because of the striking foliage and equally amazing flowers. There are around 1000 species, coming in a myriad of colors, sizes, and shapes! You can adorn your gardens with these wonderful specimens or place indoors near a bright spot and see them thrive! Here’re some of the best begonia types you can grow!
Varieties of Begonia Houseplants
Based on the root structure, begonias are categorized into four types: Tuberous, Fibrous, Hardy, and Rhizomatous.
- Fibrous: This category includes cane begonia, wax begonia, angel-wing begonia, and other varieties. All of them have a standard root ball with thin roots, round, small, and waxy leaves. Grow small flowers.
- Tuberous: This type has the most striking large flowers in neon-like colors of yellow, pink, orange, red, or white. Blooms in mid-summer until fall.
- Hardy begonias: This category is related to the Begonia grandis species and grown as a perennial in southern regions. The foliage is similar to tuberous begonias with small flowers in shades of pink or white.
- Rhizomatous: This type is mostly grown for interesting foliage and preferably as a houseplant than garden plants. Rex is the most popular subcategory with the loveliest foliage of all begonias!
Note: Instead of dividing begonia types into four categories, we have simply listed them below according to their popularity.
Best Types of Begonia Houseplants
Flowers
1. Boliviensis Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia boliviensis
This variety produces bright orange-red flowers with contrasting green foliage having pink margins. It performs well in partial shade and looks great in hanging baskets!
2. Reiger Begonia
Image Source
Botanical Name: Begonia x hiemalis
A hybrid between wax and tuberous begonia, it features waxy foliage and bright colored flowers in shades of yellow and orange. It flowers abundantly from spring to fall.
3. Big Red Bronze Leaf
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Big Red Bronze Leaf’
This one has amazing red flowers that pair really well with dark green leaves having a bronze tint. This specimen can do well in both bright sun and partial shade.
4. Solenia Dusty Rose Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Solenia Dusty Rose’
This trademark variety is a tuberous begonia hybrid and features frilly rose-hued blooms from mid-spring to mid-fall, that pair charmingly with its heart-shaped succulent leaves.
5. Ambassador White
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Ambassador White’
Fan of white flowers? Then this variety is surely going to win you over! The plant thrives in sun and shade both, flowering profusely in spring, summer, and fall.
Here are some of the most gorgeous white flowers you can grow
6. Ambassador Rose
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Ambassador Rose’
This drought and pest resistant wax begonia is a perfect choice for novice gardeners. The thick fleshy green leaves create an amazing contrast with large flowers.
7. Million Kisses
Botanical Name: Begonia boliviensis ‘Million Kisses Elegance’
It flowers in a subtle shade of pink that is beautifully complemented by its green leaves. The plant blooms abundantly on arching stems and is perfect for hanging baskets.
8. Glowing Embers
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Glowing Embers’
The plant produces flowers in a bright shade of orange, that almost look like they’re glowing! It’s a compact variety with bronze-purple foliage.
9. Illumination
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Illumination Scarlet’
With large, pendent shaped flowers in a rich hue of red, the plant looks gorgeous with its cascading, deep green foliage. Looks best in hanging baskets!
10. Apricot Shades
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Apricot Shades’
The exotic double flowers in apricot shade carry a subtle hue of white, orange, and yellow. It has one of the largest flowers on the list and blooms all summer.
11. Waterfall
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Waterfall’
With large double blooms, the flowers look somewhat like roses. If you are looking for a flowering variety for hanging baskets, go for this one eyes-closed!
12. Super Cascade
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Super Cascade’
Great for window boxes, hanging baskets, and containers, the super cascade will offer you a palette of bright colors in both sun and shade.
13. Solenia Salmon Coral
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Solenia Salmon Coral’
If you want a compact variety that flowers in a bunch of alluring flowers, then this is it! It’ll look great in containers with rich opulent blooms in deep red-orange color!
14. Solenia Light Pink
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Solenia Light Pink’
A window box favorite, the plant offers full pink, rose-like flowers. It also does quite well in sun and thrives equally well in shade too!
Check out our article on best window box flowers here
15. Nonstop Rose Begonia
Image Source
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Nonstop Deep Rose’
‘Nonstop Rose’ is a beautiful variety from the trademark ‘Nonstop series’ of tuberous begonias. It offers blooms in lovely shades of red, pink, and mixed hues!
16. Rose Green Leaf
Botanical Name: Begonia Big ‘Rose Green Leaf’
The plant’s large pink flowers pair really well with its bright green leaves. It does well in containers, is easy to care for, and does well in both part sun and shade.
17. Cocktail Mix
Botanical Name: Begonia semperflorens-cultorum ‘Cocktail Mix’
The cocktail series offers light pink, white, and red flowers with a touch of yellow at the center. It is a compact variety and does well in part shade.
Foliage and Patterns
18. Tornado Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex ‘Tornado’
An out and out exotic variety, the plant has dark green leaves patterned with silver, bronze, and deep rich purple splotches making it stand out from the rest!
19. Ballet Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex ‘Ballet’
The plant displays smashing silver-green leaves with mid-green margins on red stems. The plant, overall, also has a slight red accent.
20. Fairy Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex ‘Fairy’
If you’re a fan of foliage plants, then its silver leaves textured with shades of pink and cream along with dark green veins is surely going to tempt you into growing it!
21. Pink Charming Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex ‘Pink Charming’
As the name suggests, the plant features a glorious shade of light pink on its foliage, patterned with green hues and hints of silver.
22. Duarten Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex ‘Duarten’
This specimen has unique pointed foliage, splashed in the shades of bronze and silver. The leaves are also veined and stippled, giving this compact plant an amazing look!
23. Red Kiss
Botanical Name: Begonia rex ‘Red Kiss’
One of the most striking plants on the list, it is popular for purple-black foliage with a broad metallic red ring. Can make quite a statement wherever it is kept.
24. Salsa Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex ‘Salsa’
The plant has dark-green foliage splashed with pink color with a touch of silver accents here and there. The leaves are also variegated with burgundy-red hues.
25. Spitfire Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex ‘Spitfire’
Featuring a striking red-pink foliage that’s edged in silver and has a border in hues of green, it is one of the best begonias you can grow!
26. Camouflage
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Camouflage’
You can grow it both indoors and outdoors and it’ll continue to amaze you with its fantastic russet leaves and small flowers. It thrives well in shade.
27. Polka Dot Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia maculata
Go retro with this amazing begonia type with wing-shaped leaves marked with silver spots on the green background. It also grows clusters of pretty white flowers.
28. Angel Wing Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Angel Wing’
Categorized as a cane begonia due to its long stems, it is popular for its foliage, which has a shape like wings of angels. It also forms attractive edible pink flowers.
29. Crinkle Leaf Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia moyesii
Deeply-veined, lily-pad like glossy green leaves with dark-maroon undersides of this compact begonia gives this plant a crinkled look, hence the name.
30. Begonia Exotica
Botanical Name: Begonia brevirimosa ssp. exotica
This exotic variety features large metallic leaves with bright pink variegation on the bronze-green background. It does well under bright light.
31. Beleaf Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia beleaf inca flame
This plant is an absolute stunner thanks to its deep pink large leaves with deep veins that resemble a heart’s shape!
31. Begonia Ambassador Scarlet
Botanical Name: Begonia ‘Ambassador Scarlet’ (Ambassador Series)
This evergreen perennial generally grown as a half hardy annual, it offers glossy, round, red-edged green foliage, you will see single red blooms with yellow stamens throughout summer.
32. Wax Begonia ‘Party’ Series
Botanical Name: Begonia (Party Series)
‘Party’ begonias feature large waxy leaves with red tint on the margins. Scarlet red, pink, or pink-white blooms make the overall look more pleasant.
33. Senator White Wax Begonia
sakataornamentals
Botanical Name: ‘Senator White’ Begonia Semperflorens
It boasts dark bronze foliage and pure white flowers. ‘Senator White’ is drought and heat resistant that does well as an annual in summer gardens.
34. Begonia rex ‘Zurich’
wikimedia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex-cultorum ‘Zurich’
This begonia resembles caladium, it shows off heart-shaped leaves in deep burgundy, green, pink, and silver hues, green edges, pink, silver patterns, and dark veins in the middle.
35. Painted-Leaf Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex-cultorum ‘Painted leaf’
Also known as King Begonia, it displays oval leaves in a spiral shape and patterns. The silver-gray foliage shows off pink margins and fuzzy texture.
36. Begonia Rex ‘Paul Gibory’
wikimedia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex-cultorum ‘Paul Gibory’
‘Paul Gibory’ exhibit margins with pointed lobes, small hair-like growth, the edges are surrounded by pink and lilac hues and maroon center.
37. Rex Begonia Hybrid ‘Merry Christmas’
Botanical Name: Rex Begonia Hybrid ‘Merry Christmas’
This begonia hybrid features bright lime-green foliage with notable red-maroon veins and fuzzy texture on the leaf surface.
38. Rieger Begonia
kawasakigreenhouses
Botanical Name: Begonia × hiemalis
Also known as Elatior, it features dark green foliage with serrated margins and clusters of dainty red, pink, orange, or yellow single and double petaled blooms. This variety has a compact growth habit making it an apt choice for growing as a houseplant.
39. Wax Begonia ‘Doublet Red’
Botanical Name: Wax Begonia ‘Doublet Red’
‘Doublet Red’ has small, frilled-red, rose-like blooms and bronze-green shiny leaves. It grows up to 12 inches tall and wide.
40. Dragon Wing Begonia
koopflowers
Botanical Name: Begonia x hybrida ‘Dragon Wings’
This hybrid displays glossy, dark green leaves and clusters of bright red or pink blooms. It has a similar shape like angel wing begonia.
