10 Begonia Combos for Show-Stopping Containers
If you think Begonias are too frumpy or finicky for chic container gardens, think again! Here are ten ways to use Begonias that will make you rethink this classic Summer annual!
In my experience in central Virginia (USDA Zone 7b), there are few flowers that bloom as consistently and effortlessly as these. They’re compatible with many other flowering and foliage annuals that like evenly moist soil and similar light conditions. Whether you have full sun, full shade, or a mix, there’s a Begonia for you!
1.WHOPPER BEGONIA ‘ROSE’ WITH FERN
You’ll quickly see I often I pair Begonias with ‘Kimberly Queen’ Ferns — this is such a reliable combination! Whopper ‘Rose’ pushes out bright pink blooms with fuzzy yellow eyes all summer long. Here I paired this vigorous grower in partial sun with other like-minded annuals ‘Kimberly Queen’ Fern, Lantana, and Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’. This combo was shaded by a nearby Crepe Myrtle in the morning, but enjoyed a few hours of sun in the afternoon.
2.Whopper Begonia ‘Red’ with fern and coleus
This arrangement takes a monochromatic approach with Whopper ‘Red’ and Coleus ‘Ruby Slipper’ against a backdrop of lush greenery created by the ‘Kimberly Queen’ Fern and English Ivy. This container was in the shade, but would also have been very happy with 3 to 4 hours of morning sun each day.
3.BABY WING BEGONIA ‘WHITE’ WITH BROWALLIA
Baby Wing Begonias are more petite than their cousin Dragon Wing, but share the upright-to-arching branch structure that is well-suited to containers. In this combo, the bright white flowers and yellow eyes pair beautifully with the vibrant purple of Browallia ‘Endless™ Illumination’ and the lacy effect of Euphorbia ‘Diamond Snow®’. Baby Wings are flexible when it comes to lighting and can tolerate shade to full sun, although afternoon shade is appreciated. This combo was happy in dappled shade all day long.
4.WAX BEGONIA ‘GREEN LEAF WHITE’ WITH COLEUS
When pruned to allow the deep purple leaves of Coleus ‘Dark Star’ reach through, ‘Green Leaf White’ Wax Begonia takes on a modern look. The Robellini Palm draws your eye upward while Creeping Jenny reaches for the ground. This pairing likes partial to full sun, but appreciates afternoon shade.
5.Rieger begonia ‘amstel blitz’ paired with variegated foliage
The happy yellow flowers of ‘Amstel Blitz’ brighten up this shady window box and an otherwise foliage-forward arrangement of English Ivy, Polka Dot Plant, ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Ferns, and Dracaena ‘Limelight’. Rieger Begonias like to start out with room to breathe, so don’t overcrowd them when you first plant them. They can tolerate shade to partial sun, but I find they bloom best with at least 2 hours of direct light on them each day.
6.WAX BEGONIA ‘COCKTAIL™ BRANDY’ WITH FERN
The dark green and bronze leaves of ‘Cocktail™ Brandy’ let the pale pink flowers stand out, while anchoring the bright green fronds of this lush ‘Kimberly Queen’ Fern. This planter survived its dappled shade location, but would have been even more successful in partial sun.
7.Whopper begonia ‘rose’ with caladium
One of my favorite partners for Whopper ‘Rose’ in the shade is ‘Carolyn Whorton’ Caladium, whose speckled foliage incorporates all of the colors of this Begonia for a perfect match. This arrangement was in fairly deep shade with a tiny glimpse of afternoon sun, but it could probably handle up to three hours of morning sun. Caution: more than three hours of sun might harm the Caladium.
8.DRAGON WING BEGONIA ‘PINK’ WITH CANNA LILY
Here the giant leaves and large flower clusters of Dragon Wing Begonia hold their own among the tall, broad leaves of a Canna Lily and ‘Carolyn Whorton’ Caladium in partial sun. Pro tip: The yellow Canna Lily repeats the yellow in the eye of the Begonia and subtly creates a very cohesive design.
9.WHOPPER BEGONIA ‘ROSE’ WITH COLEUS
Another way to combine the abundant blooms of Whopper ‘Rose’ in Summer containers is to layer them beneath a sculptural Bird of Paradise and Coleus ‘Ruby Slipper’. Delicate Euphorbia '‘Diamond Frost®’ and Creeping Jenny visually tie everything together. This combo prefers partial sun, but the Whoppers and Creeping Jenny can tolerate even more shade than that.
10. WHOPPER BEGONIA ‘ROSE’ WITH CORDYLINE
Let Whopper ‘Rose’ take center stage as the only filler in your arrangement. Here, I created a bed of Begonias around the burgundy blades of Cordyline ‘Red Sensation’. Once again, Creeping Jenny is the perfect spiller beneath this prolific bloomer.
If you’ve taken my online courses in container gardening, or downloaded my free guides, you know I love a good cheat sheet! Here are two that will help you select the right Begonias for your location:
GARDEN LIGHT EXPOSURES DEFINED
Full Sun: 6 or more hours of direct sun daily
Partial Sun / Partial Shade: 3 - 6 hours of direct sun daily
Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sun daily
BEGONIA LIGHT PREFERENCES
For more detailed instructions to recreate some of my most popular container gardens that include Begonias, shop my Planter Recipes or click on the images below.
Please leave a comment if you’ve tried Begonias in your container gardens and let us know about your experience — good or bad!
All the best,