Bonfire^® begonia

Download the plant bio in Microsoft Word format: Tesselaar Plant Bio: Begonia Bonfire.

BONFIRE^® begonia has an eye-catching profusion of exotic brightly colored flowers covering up to half of the plant. BONFIRE^® begonia also has a neat, spreading, bushy growth habit. Quickly coming into bloom in late spring, it continues to shower you with masses of blooms from spring all summer long, right up until late fall.

Low maintenance, easy-care, BONFIRE^® begonias can be grown in full sun or partial shade and are not afraid of summer rains or drier summer conditions. They are ideal where masses of color are required with little or no care. A stunning introduction into the plant color world. Two available colors:

 Bonfire

 Bellfire

Bonfire Key Features

Stunning profusion of bright flowers

Great rich green foliage

Perfect in patio pots and in the garden

Low maintenance and easy care

Sensational as indoor pots of color

Suggested Uses

Indoor pots and hanging baskets. Also garden landscapes.

Growth Habit

Rounded profile, up to 20 inches wide as a garden plant or in a larger hanging basket.

Flower Size

2 inches long x 2 inches wide

Mature Height

Garden height up to 20 inches.

Mature Width

Garden width up to 20 inches.

 Spacing

Space 20 inches apart.

 Hardiness

Tolerates mild frost in the garden. In zones 7 and above, these will benefit from digging and dividing every three years to remove old tubers and reinvigorate the plant. In zone 6 or colder, you must dig up the tubers and store them indoors if you want to keep them from year to year.

Flowering Period

Flowers form from Spring through to Summer, until frost.

Number Of Flowers

Up to 50% of the bush can be covered.

Flower Color

Bright red-orange flowers.

 Fragrance

No fragrance.

 Foliage

Rich green foliage with serrated edges highlighted by a red margin.

 Pruning/Pinching

Branches naturally, but will benefit from pinching to induce side branches and more compact spreading growth.

 Temperature

Recommended day temperature 72°F with night temperature of 64°F. Higher temperatures will reduce flower size and intensity of color. To increase flower size and intensity of flower color, once the buds are formed finish plants at 57°F to 61°F. Lower or higher temperatures will result in less than ideal plant formation. Temperatures higher than 79°F will increase plant size and reduce flower size.

Light Needs

Grows in full sun to partial shade. In heavy shade, may spread producing lower growth, and fewer larger sized flowers.

Soil Needs

Performs bests in a well drained friable soil or good quality potting mix.

Water Needs

Keep moist through the growing season.

 Fertilizer

Use a flower booster controlled release fertilizer in Spring.

Disease Tolerance

If grown in heavy wet soils or over watered, stems can rot from fungal diseases.

Pest Issues

Generally not damaged by pests, though white fly may cause some damage.

Special Care

In zones 7 and above, these will benefit from digging and dividing every three years to remove old tubers and reinvigorate the plant.

Bellfire Key Features

Chosen as part of the same breeding and selection process carried out by the New Zealand Crop & Food Institute that yielded the BONFIRE^® begonia, BELLFIRE^® begonia is the first of many outstanding additions to this highly successful program.

This Begonia has a profusion of coral pink, bell shaped flowers in Spring, Summer and Fall. They can cover up to half the plant. BELLFIRE^® begonias have deep plum foliage with serrated edges highlighted by a purple margin, and a slightly more upright bushy growth habit than BONFIRE^® begonias. It is a low maintenance, easy care plant that can be grown in full sun to partial shade. There is absolutely no doubt that this one is a winner!

Suggested Uses

Indoor or patio pots and hanging baskets as well as garden landscapes.

Growth Habit

Bushy upright profile as a garden plant.

Mature Height

Garden height up to 40 inches.

Mature Width

Garden width up to 30 inches.

 Spacing

20 inches apart

 Hardiness

Tolerates mild frost. For winter protection tips, please go to the FAQs for Begonia Bonfire series.

Flowering Period

Flowers from Spring - Fall, until frost.

Number Of Flowers

Up to 50% of the bush can be covered.

Flower Color

Coral pink

 Fragrance

No fragrance.

 Foliage

Deep plum colored leaves characterized by serrated edges highlighted by a purple margin.

 Pruning/Pinching

Branches naturally, but will benefit from a pinching to induce side branches and more compact growth.

Light Needs

Grows in full sun to partial shade - in heavy shade may spread producing lower growth, and less large flowers.

Soil Needs

Performs best in a well drained friable soil or good quality potting mix, avoid poorly drained soils.

Water Needs

Is drought tolerant once established, but for best results keep slightly moist Spring through Fall.

 Fertilizer

Fertilize with a flower booster controlled release fertilizer in spring.

Disease Tolerance

If grown in heavy wet soils or over watered, stems can rot from fungal diseases.

Pest Issues

Generally not damaged by pests, though White fly may cause some damage.

Special Care

In zones 7 and above, these will benefit from digging and dividing every three years to remove old tubers and reinvigorate the plant.