As we plan our gardens this year, one of the most asked questions, perennially, has to be ‘is it low maintenance?’ Gardeners today are looking for workhorse plants that withstand the test of time.
Enter the Hardy Begonia. A star for every garden, Begonia grandis evansiana is a must have for our Capitol Hill gardens.
This perennial is: disease resistant, low maintenance, drought tolerant, long blooming, cold hardy and attractive. The hardy begonia is a tough, tender looking plant that has beautiful, cascading sprays of pink or white blooms that can last for a month or more in the summer garden. It comes into full bloom in late summer when most of our gardens are looking spent. It is drought tolerant and performs well in partial shade to shady settings.
This begonia freely divides itself by a quickly multiplying root mass. Give it moist well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly acidic. Protect the clumps in winter with a generous 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch. Mass plant with Hosta, Astilbe, and spring bulbs for a shade bed that has long lasting multi season interest.
Install the plants in early spring and be prepared to be wowed come August.
Enjoy.
Derek “The Garden Guy” Thomas has been nationally recognized for his garden design work. He is committed to the urban waterways movement by teaching and lecturing on the importance of protecting and preserving the waterways of DC and beyond. He plants a garden every year. He runs Thomas Landscapes LLC. He can be contacted at www.thomaslandscapes.com / @thomasgardenguy on twitter. You can find and friend us on Facebook at Facebook/Thomas Landscapes.
