Begonias can be belle of the ball

SUMMER: THEY ARE EASY-GOING GARDEN PLANTS

- Alice Spenser-Higgs

When it comes to shade-loving color for summer, begonias tend to play Cinderella to impatiens. But we know how the Cinderella story ends, so it's worth reminding gardeners that begonias can be every inch the belle of the ball.

They are easy-going garden plants that are water-wise and heat-tolerant, easily the lowest maintenance flowering plants for semi-shade as well as for those difficult areas that get almost equal sun and shade.

Most importantly, they don't like to be over-watered, although the more sun they receive, the more regularly they should be watered, especially plants in containers.

FILLERS

For filling beds there is begonia "Hula," that is the first of its kind spreading begonia. The many small flowers that cover the plant give a great color impact and its trailing habit (70cm spread) provides far greater coverage than the traditional begonia semperflorens.

That trailing habit also makes it a good choice for containers and patio hanging baskets, because there is nothing showier than flowers spilling over the edge of a basket.