In honor of #linnaeusday I decided to write in my blog for the first time! #linnaeusday is about sharing plant history, so I decided to dust off this article that I originally wrote for and was published in The Begonian, a bi-monthly publication of the American Begonia Society. Enjoy!
Heirloom Begonias
There are certain Begonias that evoke memories of an age gone by. Their presence connects us with another time when tropical plants were a novelty. The Victorian era was filled with a sort of plant madness. Nurserymen sent scouts around the world to gather exotics. The newfound plants were quickly introduced to the marketplace where they fulfilled the public's insatiable hunger for tropicals. Hundreds of specialty nurseries popped up all over the U.S. selling the latest and greatest in houseplants. What a time it must have been when you think of how few of those original nurseries are still left. Begonias were among the most popular plants and among the most hybridized.
Victorian homes typically did not have much light and were on the cool side. Only the wealthy could afford a greenhouse. When the Wardian case was invented people could have a mini-greenhouse in their home. Many a Begonia found its way into these fancy terrariums. Those that did not get encased in glass spent their time on windowsills and in gardens.
Cane-like Begonias had a proud stature in the Victorian parlor and garden. They were prized for their cascading often spotted "angel wing" foliage and large umbels of flowers. One of the first and still one of the best was B. maculata, discovered in the early 1800's. Other popular cane-like Begonias included B. lucerna (1894), B. coccinea (1843), and B. corallina.
A group of Cane-like Begonias
Shrub-like Begonias were used in bedding as well as in the parlor with the first species of this group being found in 1688! I found much mention of the shrub-like group in my small collection of antique books on plants. B. 'Thurstonii' (1887) with its "elephant ear" leaves and pretty pink flowers was admired greatly. B. echinosepala (1871) was loved for its heavenly scented white flowers and elongated leaves. B. scharffiana (1888), B. fuchsioides (1847), B. nitida (1789), and B. 'Kewensis' (1894) were also among the many grown in this group.
B. echinosepala (1871)
Rhizomatous were dependable and were loved for their exotic foliage and sprays of pink and white flowers. B. 'Erythrophylla' ("beefsteak" or "pond lily" begonia) was introduced in 1845. More than likely your grandmother grew this indestructible, smoothed leaved, pink flowered plant. Other favorites of the time were B. 'Ricinifolia' (1847), B. hydrocotylifolia (1842), and B. heracleifolia (1830).
An example of a rhizomitous Begonia
B. rex was discovered in 1856 and became widely available in 1858. Endless amounts of hybrids ensued. They were loved, much like today, for their seemingly limitless color combinations. B. 'Comtesse Louise Erdody' (1883), B. 'Fireflush', and B.'Silver Queen' (1875) are just a fraction of all the different varieties grown at the time.
An example of a rex Begonia
B. semperflorens (1821) and its many hybrids were delighted in for their floriferousness. Begonias in the Semp group were used as summer bedding plants and in the winter kept the windowsill bright.
Tuberous and semi-tuberous Begonias were grown in summer and then stored away with the Gladiolus and Dahlias. I found mention of B. dregei (1836) in two old books from my collection. It was apparently admired for its abundance of white flowers. Also mentioned were B. 'Weltonensis' (1864), B. froebelii (1874), and B boliviensis (1859). The early 1900's saw a surge in many cultivars of the tuberhybrida class, which were adored for their large colorful flowers, as they still are today.
In a book, dated 1900, called Plant Culture by George W. Oliver, I found and excerpt that suggests Victorians would force cane and shrub-like Begonias into dormancy after time as a bedding plant. He describes: "Old plants will hibernate in boxes under the bench of a moderately warm house." Interesting piece of advice. I myself have had success with Begonias placed in my basement to force them into dormancy. In the same book he describes B 'Gloire de Sceaux' as "a trifle miffy" and sings the praises of B. 'Gloire de Lorraine'. What I also found interesting was the mention and high recommendation of B. grandis, then also called B. evansiana. It is described as being great for borders and applauded for being cold hardy. And hardy it is, surviving as far north as zone 6!
The general hardiness and boundless beauty of these plants sparked the fancy of our predecessors. Now, generations later Begonias are still a shining beacon in our homes, gardens, and greenhouses.
Begonias are always a pleasure to have around the house!
No comments:
Post a Comment