The green varieties do better with a little more shade or indoors. If you are planting your wax begonia outdoors, the varieties that have bronze leaves can handle more sun. If your plant is getting too much sunlight it will start looking droopy. There are more heat-tolerant varieties and can handle more sun, but the best thing is to try and provide them with about half a day of sunlight. The begonias plant tends to like sunlight, but not too much direct sunlight. Here are some of the important factors you need to take into consideration when caring for your wax begonia. Wax begonia care can vary depending on where you live and if you are keeping them indoors in containers, outdoors in the ground, or as potted plants. This makes them the perfect houseplant during winter in colder climates. The most important thing to know is that wax begonias cannot withstand freezing temperatures or frost. They do not need a lot of fertilizer and can survive with just water if it is an emergency situation. They need to be brought inside during cold climates unless you have an area that is protected from severe weather.Ĭaring for begonias is easy. Wax begonias can thrive with sunlight and consistent waterings. Wax begonias are not as hardy plants meaning they cannot withstand freezing temperatures or frost. The only downside of wax begonias is that the blooms come off easily if touched or shaken while still wet. Wax begonia colors can range from red, pink, white to yellow. They typically bloom in the summer and fall but can be kept in bloom by providing a cool environment during the winter. Most people are familiar with them as outdoor plants as they are popular in landscaping as bedding plants. Wax begonias can be grown as perennials in warmer climates (growing zones 10 and 11). Wax begonias can be grown indoors as houseplants or as annuals outdoors. Wax leaf begonias are deer resistant and can grow to be as large as two feet tall.

They are often referred to as everblooming. These flowers bloom all summer long until the fall comes around. The wax begonia contains fibrous roots with compact leaves that are waxy in color, either dark green or bronze, and come in loose clusters of flowers. There are over 1,000 species of begonias with varying colors, shapes, sizes, and textures some have leaves that resemble ferns while others have leaves that look like feathers or scales. It's believed that the name 'wax begonia' comes from its waxy leaves, which are covered with tiny hairs to help them retain water and resist dryness. Wax begonias are a type of flowering plant that belongs to the family Begoniaceae and is native to Central America, Mexico, and Florida. The wax begonia has been cultivated in Europe since 1885 but was not introduced into North America until 1918. Begonia semperflorens (part of the cultorum group) or more commonly known as the wax begonia or wax-leaf begonia have been cultivated for centuries.

Indoor wax begonia