For 3 years this same plant has returned in the same spot in the red flower color, I have not had begonias for more than 5 years! We get harsh winters and begonias should not be able to survive theoretically.

It certainly looks like a Begonia to me! Amazing that it would survive for three years in N.Y.! Check out images of Wax Begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)

it is probably returning by seed, that would explain why it is in the same spot.

It could be hardy Begonia, B. grandis.
http://www.missouribotanicalga...

purpleinopp said:It could be hardy Begonia, B. grandis.
http://www.missouribotanicalga...

I've only had wax begonias, but they have round leaves, this has spikes, and does look very similar to Hardy begonia except being red. Either someone had Hardy begonia and this is seed from that, or wax begonia seed reverted to a wilder, Hardy form, or hybridized to create this.

Took some up close photos of leaf and bloom.

I grow hardy begonias here and the leaf shape and flower presentation isn't quite right. Leaves on the B. grandis are longer and more pointed on the ends. Flowers are pendulous from longer stems. The photo sure looks like a wax begonia, annuals that I plant every year.

Shadegardener said:I grow hardy begonias here and the leaf shape and flower presentation isn't quite right. Leaves on the B. grandis are longer and more pointed on the ends. Flowers are pendulous from longer stems. The photo sure looks like a wax begonia, annuals that I plant every year.

Well, then I guess they survive in cold zones by reseeding naturally. 🙂 Mystery solved!

I've planted the annual begonias for a few years now ever since impatiens have been suffering from their fungal disease. Have never had any self-sow so maybe it's a rare, fortunate thing.

Shadegardener said:I've planted the annual begonias for a few years now ever since impatiens have been suffering from their fungal disease. Have never had any self-sow so maybe it's a rare, fortunate thing.

We had frost, you think it should of died from that but it looks ok. Something odd is at play here...

I find (here anyway) that begonias can take a little more cold than other annuals like impatiens. Could yours be in a little micro-climate? In my yard, early frosts seem to be deflected if the leaves are still on the oak trees. I'll see frost on roofs across the street but not in my yard down at ground level. I'm guessing the leaves create an insulated air layer with the ground temperature.

Wax Begonias often live through winter here. Over the years, I've had several forms or variations of wax Begonias, and I've never known what the difference was, just that I can tell/see they're not identical - in height, leaf shape. They're a confusing bunch. There's a patch in my Mom's yard that's been there for about 6-7 years.

purple - nice! The only variation of wax begonias here is leaf or flower color. I've never started them from seed as I use up to 3 or 4 flats and seed-starting for them would take up too much space.

purpleinopp said:Wax Begonias often live through winter here. Over the years, I've had several forms or variations of wax Begonias, and I've never known what the difference was, just that I can tell/see they're not identical - in height, leaf shape. They're a confusing bunch. There's a patch in my Mom's yard that's been there for about 6-7 years.

Do you have photos of the patch in your Moms yard?

No, sorry. I've just looked through all pic folders that include "mom's" in the name and don't see that I've taken a pic of that before. I found a pic of one of my plants that had both round and pointy leaves :


There are 2 entries for was Begonia here:
Wax Begonia (Begonia cucullata)
Wax Begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)