Begonia (I’Conia Portofino Yellow)

Several varieties of I'Conia begonias have been in the market for about a decade.  They have a compact form and dark contrasting foliage.

Begonias come from the family of Begoniaceae, with about 1800 species.  They are native to the subtropics so we treat them as annuals or houseplants here in Canada.  They were found in Brazil around 1690, though usage has been found in China dating back to the 14th century.  They were named after a French Canadian colonizer of Haiti - a man by the name of Michel Begon.

They are classified into 7 groups, including:

• Cane
• Shrub-Like
• Tuberous
• Rhizomatous
• Waxy
• Rex
• Trailing-Scandent

They tend like bright indirect light.  Keep away from direct sunlight.  If they get too much shade, they will not perform well.  Will pull down a fair amount of water when they are growing a lot.  Keep soil moist but do not let water sit on the roots.