Shade color that keeps going: green-leaf ‘Bada Bing’ and bronze-leaf ‘Bada Boom’ in red, rose, scarlet, white and mixes. Morning sun only in the Valley; plant October–November and again February–March.
Wax begonias are the workhorse for the spots where nothing else flowers — under trees, along a north wall, on a covered patio — with glossy round leaves and a constant supply of small single flowers that never need deadheading. In the low desert they are a cool-season plant with two planting windows: fall, for color through winter until a hard frost, and late winter, for spring until the July heat melts them. Afternoon sun scorches the leaves in any season.
We commonly carry the ‘Bada Bing’ series (green leaf) in rose, scarlet, white and mix, and ‘Bada Boom’ (bronze leaf) in scarlet, white and mix. Begonias are toxic to pets if eaten. The rest of the color tables are on our Annual Flowers & Foliage page.
These are the wax begonia varieties we commonly carry. Availability changes week to week and season to season, so call (480) 987-3308 or stop in to see what’s on the bench today.
Compact 8–10-inch plants with glossy green leaves and flowers in mixed pink, rose, scarlet and white. The most heat-tolerant wax begonia series.
Green leaf, clear rose-pink flowers.
Green leaf, bright scarlet flowers — the classic shade-bed red.
Green leaf, white flowers that light up a dark corner.
The bronze-leaved twin of ‘Bada Bing’: dark mahogany foliage under mixed flowers. Bronze-leaf types take a little more sun.
Bronze leaf, scarlet flowers — the highest-contrast combination.
Bronze leaf, white flowers.
Looking for one that isn’t listed? Ask — we can usually suggest a close match or tell you when it tends to come around.
The care tag was written somewhere else. This is the Queen Creek version.
Two windows: mid-October through November, for bloom through the winter until a hard frost; and February through March, for spring until the heat of July finishes them. A light frost only spots the leaves; a night below 28°F kills them, so cover fall plantings on the coldest nights.
Rich, well-drained soil with compost, or a quality potting mix. Water every two to three days in fall and spring, weekly in the coldest weeks, daily for pots by May — at the base, not over the foliage. Begonias rot in soggy soil and wilt in bone-dry; keep it evenly moist. Mulch beds.
White powder on leaves in still, humid corners — space plants, water at the base in the morning, and remove the worst leaves. Snails after rain. Leggy plants can be pinched back by a third and will refill.
Morning sun and afternoon shade, or bright shade all day. Even in winter, afternoon sun off a west wall scorches the leaves; in summer any direct sun does. Bronze-leaf ‘Bada Boom’ tolerates a little more light than green-leaf ‘Bada Bing’. A north-side bed or under a tree canopy is ideal.
A balanced or bloom fertilizer at half strength every two to three weeks. They are steady, not heavy, feeders. No deadheading — wax begonias drop their own flowers.
Begonias are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten — the roots most of all. Plant them where pets don’t dig.
Snap a photo of the spot — sun direction, wall color, pot size — and we’ll pick a season-correct combination with you. Advice is free.
Annuals succeed or fail on what’s under them. We stock planting mix and compost for beds, potting mix for containers, bloom fertilizers including Tony’s Magic Mix and Magic Flower, starter fertilizer, drip fittings and frost cloth for the cold nights. The pottery yard has glazed and terracotta pots from 4-inch to whiskey-barrel size, window boxes and hanging baskets, and soil and mulch is sold by the bag or by the yard.
Mid-October through November, and again February through March. They bloom through winter and spring and melt in July heat.
Morning sun only, or bright shade. Afternoon sun scorches the leaves in any season here.
A light frost spots the leaves; a night below about 28°F kills them. Cover on the coldest nights.
Every two to three days in fall and spring, weekly in the coldest weeks, daily in pots by May, at the base.
No — wax begonias are self-cleaning. Pinch leggy plants back by a third to refresh them.
No. They are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, especially the roots.
Wax Begonia live on the annuals tables; any staff member can point you to them. Locally owned, and a short drive from San Tan Valley, Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa.