A begonia for a hanging basket needs a habit that spills: trailing stems, arching canes or pendant flower clusters. Most of the plants sold for baskets are tuberous begonias or hybrids of Begonia boliviensis, a tuberous species from the Andes. A few cane-type and foliage begonias work too.
Below are eight begonias that extension services or Missouri Botanical Garden describe as trailing, cascading or suited to baskets. For how the begonia groups differ in general, see our types of begonias guide.
8 hanging basket begonias compared
| Variety | Group | Habit | Flowers | Light |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trailing tuberous begonias (e.g. ‘Illumination’ series) | Tuberous | Trailing stems 30–45 cm (12–18 in) | Double, 5–10 cm (2–4 in), many colours | Partial shade |
| Sun Dancer Pink | Tuberous | Branching and cascading | Double, pink | Partial shade |
| Begonia boliviensis | Tuberous species | Gently arching, to 60 cm (2 ft) | Pendant, crimson-orange, in twos or threes | Part shade |
| Bossa Nova Red | B. boliviensis selection | Dense, well branched, 40 cm tall × 50 cm wide (16 × 20 in) | Pendulous red, 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) | Sun to shade; best in part shade |
| Funky Pink | Tuberous hybrid (B. tuberosa × B. boliviensis) | Trailing to mounding, 30 × 45 cm (1 × 1.5 ft) | Double, pink | More sun-tolerant than other tuberous types |
| Dragon Wing Red | Cane-type hybrid | Fleshy, semi-trailing stems | Large, drooping, scarlet | Part to full shade |
| Begonia sutherlandii | Tuberous species | Thin red stems that arch and cascade | Red-orange, 2–3 cm (0.75–1.25 in) | Part to full shade |
| Rex begonias | Rhizomatous (foliage) | Dense, 30–45 cm (12–18 in) | Small; grown for leaves | Bright, indirect |
Sources: Clemson HGIC 1159, NC State Extension and the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder.
1. Trailing tuberous begonias
Clemson Extension notes that tuberous begonias come in upright forms and in forms with trailing stems 30–45 cm (12–18 in) long. The trailing types suit hanging baskets. Flowers are 5–10 cm (2–4 in) wide in white, yellow, orange, rose, red and pink. Clemson names the ‘Illumination’ series as popular for hanging baskets, with double blooms in many colours.
Missouri Botanical Garden explains that tuberous hybrids are sorted into groups by flower shape and by habit, cascading or bushy. Check the label says trailing, pendula or cascading before you buy for a basket.
These are flowering-quantity plants. University of Minnesota Extension says basket varieties should not be thinned to a few stems, unlike large-flowered bedding types. Pinch the stem tips in late spring to make them bushier.
2. Sun Dancer Pink
NC State Extension lists Tuberous Begonia Sun Dancer™ Pink as having a branching and cascading habit with double pink flowers. Grow it like any trailing tuberous begonia.
3. Begonia boliviensis
Missouri Botanical Garden describes B. boliviensis as a tuberous species from the cloud forests of Bolivia and Argentina. It grows up to 60 cm (2 ft) tall and wide with a gently arching habit. The narrow leaves reach about 12.5 cm (5 in). Crimson-orange flowers hang in loose clusters of two or three.
Clemson calls its flowers “elongated stars” on graceful arches. It is best in hanging baskets, window boxes or containers, and is a parent of the tuberous begonia hybrids. Many coloured selections exist.
The tubers rot in wet or poorly drained mix, so use a free-draining basket compost.
4. Bossa Nova Red
A compact B. boliviensis selection. Missouri Botanical Garden describes a dense, well-branched plant about 40 cm (16 in) tall and 50 cm (20 in) wide, with pendulous red flowers 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) long from spring to frost. It tolerates full sun to full shade but performs best in partial shade. Hanging baskets are among its listed uses.
5. Funky Pink
Missouri Botanical Garden lists Funky Pink as a cross between B. tuberosa and B. boliviensis, with double pink flowers and a trailing to mounding habit. It reaches about 30 cm (1 ft) tall and 45 cm (1.5 ft) wide. It tolerates more sun than other tuberous hybrids, but dappled shade, or morning or afternoon sun with shade the rest of the day, is still preferred.
6. Dragon Wing Red
Dragon Wing begonias are cane-type hybrids with angel-wing leaves. Missouri Botanical Garden describes Dragon Wing Red as a compact, bushy plant with fleshy, semi-trailing stems, large drooping scarlet flowers and a 38–45 cm (15–18 in) mound. It flowers from May to October and tolerates hot, humid summers. Hanging baskets are one of its listed uses.
Clemson gives the Dragon Wing series a larger size, 60–90 cm (2–3 ft) with tall arching canes. It reblooms reliably because it is sterile and does not set seed. Clemson also lists BabyWing, a compact series of 30–38 cm (12–15 in), which suits smaller baskets.
7. Begonia sutherlandii
A tuberous species from forested mountain slopes of south-eastern Africa. Missouri Botanical Garden describes thin, fleshy red stems that arch and cascade, toothed leaves 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) long with red-tinged edges, and loose clusters of red-orange flowers. It forms small bulbils in the leaf joints. It goes dormant in winter; keep the pot cool, frost-free and moderately dry, as wet winter soil rots the roots.
8. Rex begonias for foliage baskets
If you want leaves rather than flowers, NC State Extension notes that rex begonias are well suited to hanging baskets. Missouri Botanical Garden lists them as best used as a container or basket plant for a shaded deck or balcony. They need more humidity than the flowering types and should not be misted. For their care, see the rex section of our begonia types guide.
Clemson HGIC 1552 also lists a trailing shrimp begonia among the begonias grown indoors in hanging baskets.
Growing begonias in a hanging basket
Light. University of Minnesota Extension says tuberous begonias should be shaded for most of the day. Early morning and late afternoon sun will not harm them; give indirect or dappled light the rest of the time. Missouri Botanical Garden adds that tuberous hybrids dislike high heat and humidity and do best in cool summers.
Shelter. Protect baskets from strong wind but keep air moving around the leaves. Crowded, humid, still conditions encourage powdery mildew, botrytis and stem rot.
Planting. Missouri Botanical Garden suggests 3–4 tubers per hanging basket, set shallowly with the concave side up. Start them indoors in late winter, about 2½–3 months before they go outside after the last frost.
Water. Tuberous begonias are not drought tolerant, but they rot in soggy mix. University of Minnesota Extension says to let container soil become slightly dry before watering, and notes that moss-lined wire baskets drain well. Clemson warns that excess water or fertiliser causes flower bud drop.
Feeding. University of Minnesota Extension calls tuberous begonias fairly heavy feeders. Use a dilute balanced fertiliser through the growing season.
Keeping basket begonias over winter
Tuberous begonias cannot stay outside in frost. University of Minnesota Extension says they always enter a dormant period, so they will not grow on as year-round houseplants.
- Reduce watering and stop feeding in late summer.
- Dig or unpot the tubers when the foliage yellows, or before the first frost (Clemson).
- Cut the stems back, then dry the tubers indoors out of direct sun.
- Pack them in vermiculite, peat moss or wood shavings. Clemson gives a storage temperature of 7–13 °C (45–55 °F); Minnesota gives 4–10 °C (40–50 °F).
- Check occasionally and discard soft or rotting tubers.
For B. boliviensis, Missouri Botanical Garden suggests a simpler route: cut the stems back after frost and store the whole container in a cool place, watering just enough to stop the tubers shrivelling. Dragon Wing plants can be cut back in autumn and kept indoors somewhere cool with less water.
If stems collapse at the base, check for rot with our begonia root rot guide. White patches on leaves are covered in begonia powdery mildew.
Pets
The ASPCA lists all Begonia species as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of soluble calcium oxalates. Signs include vomiting and salivation, and the tubers and other underground parts are the most toxic. Hang baskets out of reach and store dormant tubers where pets cannot get at them.
References
- Clemson Cooperative Extension: Begonia, HGIC 1159; Growing Begonias Indoors, HGIC 1552
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Begonia – Tuberous Types, Begonia – Rex Types
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Begonia (Tuberosa Group), Begonia boliviensis Bossa Nova Red, Begonia Funky Pink, Begonia Dragon Wing Red, Begonia sutherlandii, Begonia rex-cultorum
- University of Minnesota Extension: Growing tuberous begonias
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Begonia