Does anyone recognize this one? I've lost the tag.



It sometimes looks like this:



And a question: Is there a difference between what's called Hanging Basket Begonias here and Begonia Pendula in Europe? We have both listed in our database.

No ID from me but I grew Tuberous Begonias for many years. The best tubers, in my opinion were developed on the west coast in Capitola, California. When I was buying tubers I always chose the American type hybrids....they had larger, fuller blossoms in more exciting colors. The pendula were the older hanging type. Those called Hanging Basket were again developed in California and featured the larger, fuller flowers which bloomed heavily. If memory serves me right one of the first American hybridizer was named Brown. Vetterle and Rienalt [sp?] and Antonelli's were the top California breeders and growers. I had the opportunity to visit both nurseries several times but they are both gone now. To bad. I think the earlier ones were called Belgian Bulbs.

I remember the Begonia Festival in Capitola. I wonder if they still do that. They made floats out of Begonias, like the rose floats in the Pasadena Rose Parade.

Antonelli's burned to the ground a few years ago. I miss them.

That's good information about the pendula and hanging basket begonias, Paul. Then would you say that the red photo here is of a Pendula and the yellow one is Hanging Basket?

Your pictures do look like pendula first and hanging basket second. I think the last few years that Antonelli's were open that they produced the seed and another company raised the tubers. I sometimes see someone try to ID a Tuberous Begonia. There are named varieties that are very expensive as they are produced vegetatively. Places like White Flower Farm and Black and Langdon offered them. Several local nurseries carried the American Hybrids but I haven't seen them the last few years. I wonder if they are still avaiable? The hybrid tubers were far less expensive and just as nice. I love Tuberous Begonias

That's what most of my begonias are, Paul. The Amerihybrids, as they're called, are available from Bloomingbulb.com and many other mail-order nurseries and are carried by most of my local nurseries. They are relatively inexpensive and they often come up with something new and exciting. My favorites have always been the ruffled series.