Strawberry begonia

Questions about strawberry begonia

Does strawberry begonia need sun or shade?

Strawberry begonia grows in part shade (2 to 4 hours of sun, mostly in the morning) and shade (less than 2 hours of direct sun, or bright dappled light).

It wants soil that stays evenly moist, rich in organic matter, and a good soak in dry spells. Once settled in, it stands drought.

What zones does strawberry begonia grow in?

USDA zones 6 to 9. It is hardy to zone 6, which means it survives winter nights down to about 0 °F (−18 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does strawberry begonia flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers mid May to late June. As a spring flower it moves about a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer, later where it is colder.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should strawberry begonia be planted?

12 in (30 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 18 in (45 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 8 in (20 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many strawberry begonia plants do I need?

At 12 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 12 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 11 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 38 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as threes and fives, along the front and just behind it.

In the bed above, the planner used 13 in four groups.

Is strawberry begonia poisonous to dogs and cats?

No toxicity is recorded for dogs, cats, horses or people, according to NC State Extension.

"Not toxic" is not "edible": a pet that eats a lot of any plant can be sick.

Is there a native plant like strawberry begonia?

Strawberry begonia comes from Central and Southern China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Woodland strawberry: the same job in a bed, the same size and the same colour; flowers early May to late August, not evergreen.
• Creeping phlox 'Sherwood Purple': the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers early May to late May, purple, not white.
• Green-and-gold: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late April to mid June, yellow, not white.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat strawberry begonia?

They may. NC State does not list it as resistant to deer or rabbits. Where they visit, protect it, or plant it among ones they avoid.

Will strawberry begonia spread?

It spreads sideways, by runners or roots; the risk of it taking over is moderate. Spreads steadily by creeping stems. It is easy to pull out, but needs a firm edge.

What flowers after strawberry begonia?

Strawberry begonia is over by late June. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Astilbe: from late June to mid July, 24 in tall.
• Bigleaf hydrangea: from late June to late August, 5 ft tall.
• Wintergreen: from late June to late July, 5 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.

What does strawberry begonia look like in winter?

Strawberry begonia keeps its variegated leaves all winter, so it is one of the plants that hold a bed together from November to March, when the perennials have gone.