How To Grow A Dragon Wing Begonia Plant;The Shade Queen of the Annual Flowers
Dragon Wing Begonia’s are a surprise. When you see them at the nursery or garden center they look ugly, unflowered, and rather dismal, but when you put them in your garden they quickly become the Queen of All Shady Annuals. Regal, beautiful, and gorgeous in every way. Above you see my Dragon Wing Pink Begonia’s with a little dragon winged friend in early July of this year.
This Begonia is basically maintenance-free and builds spectacular hanging baskets. It makes a simple container turn alive with it’s eye-catching wing-shaped foliage and nice flowers. Dragon Wing is very heat tolerant and requires low water. Perfect for my sustainable approach to gardening.
HOW TO GROW A DRAGON WING BEGONIA PLANT –
- Plant a Dragon Wing Begonia in a container or garden bed by digging a hole twice the size of the plant’s root ball, then gently covering the roots with soil once the root ball is in the ground. Soil which is well drained and well-amended with compost or rotted manure will increase the success of the flower display.
- Mulching the plant is important if it is planted in the ground. While Dragon Wing Begonia is rather drought tolerant, it reacts well to CONSISTENT watering no matter where it is planted. Meaning – it likes water at regular intervals and does not like to remain parched like the Sahara Desert for long periods of time. Mulching helps maintain more even moisture for the plant.
- Feeding with an organic fertilizer every two weeks or so will help it become a larger more florific plant. I added manure at the beginning of the season and did NOTHING related to fertilizing the rest of the season. Worked just fine.
- I leave the plant over the winter as shelter for the little creatures in my garden and clean it up in the spring. However, if you want to propagate this plant yourself, it is easy to do so from cuttings.
Below you see an August view of the “begonia shelf” and my pallet wall garden. To learn how to grow a vertical pallet wall garden, please go here.
Think about Dragon Wing Begonia’s for your garden next season – I think they will be a hit!
Special Note – Because the FTC requires it, I am letting you know that Ball Horticultural supplied the Begonia Dragon Wing Pink annual plants grown in this garden. I write many instructional stories and videos with their flower and vegetable products and donate a large portion of the vegetables I grow to the local food pantry when harvested.
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Your mode of explaining the whole thing in this article is really good,
all be able to easily know it, Thanks a lot.
HELP! My son bought a small Dragon wing plant 2 years ago at the farmers market it grew from this tiny 4-6 inch plant to a large 2 foot plant beautiful, vibrant pink and green! It was the best peace in our little apt garden. My *clears throat* now ex boyfriend, did not water the plant or bring it inside while I was in Florida for a week. So the ENTIRE plant pretty much died. It is still in its original pot. But it stands only about 2 inch tall. There was a green leaf growing in, but that died when the weather dropped below freezing. How can I grow this plant back? It was so Gorgeous and my (now 6 yrs old) Son’s first plant!
Okay. My suggestion might not help you Starla. I would consider pulling the plant out to examine the root system – does it look healthy? If it does, replant it in a fresh pot of soil. Fertilize gently with some liquid organic fertilizer.
If the frost got it, then it’s probably not going to make it, but try to repot and see if that helps. Keep special watch over it and see if it develops in new green buds – should happen within a few weeks.
Best of luck!
Two questions.
1).How tall does a Begonia Dragon Wings grow.
2).I have a spot for it but it will only get full sun in the morning from about 9.00a.m. to 1.00p.m. is this okay?
Thanks
Brian
Dragon Wing begonia only typically grows about 15″ high. Some might get a little taller, but that’s the average.
I think your description of your sun conditions is good – you’re describing a mostly shady situation.
What plants will you plant with the dragon wing? colorful shade companions include sweet potato vine and coleus. Ornamental edibles such as lacinto kale and Swiss chard make wonderful container companions as well.
I have a friend that has her dragon wing in a hanging basket so that she can bring it in and put it in her basement for the winter here in Michigan. It gets just enough light and still has a few flowers on it and it’s mid march.
Thanks very much Lisa – great idea!
I have my dragon wing in the house over the winter. It has bloomed all winter. My question is should I cut it back before I put it outside this spring.
I planted 3 of these begonias in a large 2’6′ diameter pot and they
grew in the sun up to my shoulders! They are huge. Can I just cut them back and let them re-bloom again or will they? Wish I could attach a photo.
I’m in Hollywood, CA
Hello! Quick question that’s completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile
friendly? My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4.
I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to fix this problem.
If you have any recommendations, please share.
With thanks! https://lilisharyantoliardia.wordpress.com sukses sekali
Right now it seems like WordPress is the preferred blogging platform out there right
now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?