A Bounty of (Hardier) Begonias

Begonia grandis ‘Heron’s Pirouette’ in the tuberous group. Photographs by Tony Avent, except as noted

In my younger days, I considered begonias to be plants that only my grandmother fussed over. I did find them attractive, but they never really sparked any botanical interest. They evoked images of old ladies sewing quilts and fawning over these frilly little plants. What a misconception—not only of elderly women, but also of the genus Begonia, many of whose members are strong and durable, delightful in their variety, and quite at home outdoors in areas that had traditionally been considered inhospitable. Their memorable attributes today are the result of more than a century of hybridization and selection—good breeding, you might say. Lately, I've been experimenting with some of the newer, hardier selections of begonia in my Sacramento garden (USDA zone 9, Sunset zone 14).

The American Begonia Society has broken down Begonia into several horticultural categories. While not based on clear scientific criteria, the categories do make it easier to separate the plants according to similar growth habits and cultu...