Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana 'Alba'

The genus Begonia has more than 1000 real species, not to mention an even larger amount of cultivars. Most occur in tropical countries. Only a few can be kept outside in the Dutch climate during the winter months. One of those species is Begonia grandis subspecies evansiana 'Alba', native to China and Japan. Full-grown plants may vary in height from 60 to 100 cm. The green stems have large green leaves with a bright red underside. The flowering period is from August to October, during which it developes an exuberant amount of big flower clusters with rather large white flowers. At the end of the season, bulbils develop on the internodes, which later die off with the stems and fall to the ground. These nodules cause the plant to steadily expand. Begonias grow best in a slightly acidic soil mixture of leaf mold and peat. They thrive well, both in partial shade and full sun.