Growing Tuberous Begonias, Non_Stop Tuberous and Giant Flowered Tuberous Begonias

Three pages on Tuberous Begonias.
This is page 1 on the differences between Giant and Non Stop Begonias
Page 2 real Growing Instructions
Page 3 is a FAQ page with extra information. Enjoy them all.

Click here for page 2 Tuberous Begonia Growing instructions

If you have a question after you read the two pages on Begonias try the FAQ page or send us an email with your question and we'll try to answer.

Non-Stop Tuberous Begonias and Giant original Tuberous Begonias
How are they different?
For many years we only had the traditional large flowered t.begonias. Breeders concentrated on larger flowers and more color varieties. Basically in this group there are camellia or rose flowered type. See the picture of the yellow flowers in the picture. They can have blooms up to 6 or more inches across.
Ruffled or carnation flowered begonias look like the red and white picotee in the picture. The darker edge on the flower makes it a 'picotee'variety

Then there are the hanging basket varieties. Both Non Stops and Giants have hanging types. The non stops are called Illumination.

At Weidners you can dig the upright form but not the basket hanging types. Why? Because having those trailing branches lying on the ground make them look ugly and begin to rot. Not pretty.
Some of the uprights will have a slightly hanging quality and can be grown in a basket but they will never really hang.

Non Stop variety Tuberous Begonias

The Non Stop begonias came along in the 1980's. Lots of people still think of them as new but the years go by and 20 or more years is a long time. Why are they called Non Stop and how are they different to the giants? They come from a German Horticultural family called Benary. This family has long been the leader in all kinds of begonias.

They are called Non Stop because it is possible to make them bloom year round if you provide the right conditions. Look on the Begonia Growing hints page to learn how.

Nonstop begonias have smaller blooms and not as many color variations as the giants. They are also easier to grow and more tolerant of summer heat. That is a relative statement, note the word 'more', [not you desert gardeners.] I do have one customer in the San Fernando Valley that successfully grows tuberous begonias but it is certainly not easy.
The Nonstop hanging basket varieties are called Illumination.

On the left is a bed of all tuberous begonias, Probably done for a Show because they are planted a little too close.

Really new type of tuberous begonias with a hardy sun tolerant species begonia called Boliviensis mixed into the genetics. The newest of these are called Bonfire and Bellfire These are very different begonias They take full sun, come only in red and are a very late bloomer. You'll see more of these as they become more popular and well known.

Frequently Asked Questions