This fetching winter-hardy tuberous Begonia has lots to toot its horn about. The mounded, gleaming green clump presents attractive, large angel-wing leaves that sport red veins, branched stems with cardinal-hued nodes and exquisite panicles of yellow-centered white flowers. A perfect companion for fellow shade dwellers like Pulmonarias and Impatiens omeiana, ‘Alba’ appears late spring, requiring mulch in cold winter locales and slightly acidic, well-drained moisture-retentive soil.

Blooms July–September

Size: 18" – 2' 0" high x 12" – 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Though the polished triangular foliage resembles the species, it was the masses of deep pink, nearly 12 in. long flower clusters, pirouetting with a dancer’s grace that caught Dan Hinkley’s keen eye during a 1997 Japanese expedition. Draped on slender pendulous stems, the richly hued flowers, highlighted by lavender accents, deliver a splendid nonstop performance from June until fall; later warm pink seed heads provide a midautumn encore. This delicate-looking Begonia is an excellent choice for a container or for massing as a bedding plant.

Blooms June–October

Size: 15" high x 15" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

A hardy denizen of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa, this exotic-looking tuberous Begonia sends up jagged-edged bright green foliage beneath a lovely cascade of clear orange flowers supported by pale red stems. The alluring summer long display complements Bletilla ‘Soryu’ or Saxifraga ‘Maroon Beauty’.

Blooms June–August

Size: 6" high x 18" wide.

Zone 7/8.