Based on my prior flower blogs, you know that I try to find flowers that will bloom from late Spring until Fall. I found a great flower that meets my requirement!! Originally, I thought the zinnias would take the prize for the longest blooming in Pittsburgh, PA. Guess again – the prize winner is annual begonias!
I grew the pink and white versions.The thick green leaves really accent the flowers. I bought starter plants from a local nursery at the beginning of May. As of November 4th, both still look good. The annual begonias likes sun or part sun. I grew the begonias in pots and planter boxes so they grew up to 1 foot high and 6 inches wide. If planted them in the ground, these begonias can grow up to 3 feet tall and 12 inches wide. I am going to try planting them in the ground next season.
The flowers have yellow seed pods in the middle. Once they are dried, I am going to remove and store the seeds in a brown bag or an envelope. I tried finding a seed source for this begonia variety from various seed companies – I didn’t have any success. I will see how easy they grow from seed by growing them outside under cover in the Spring.
If you have a favorite annual flower that lasts from Spring to Fall, send me a picture at sandyatcrazyforgardening.com. I am always looking for new flowers.
