I need help and advice from experienced begonia peeps

On the right of this forum is a small box that reads "Search Garden.org" If you click on it, type in Begonias, and it will take you to info and articles on begonias.

Thanks Sandi! I have read some of those. Was hoping for some folks in my same climate to help me choose some that would be most likely to thrive here in the intense heat we have in summer. I want some big showy leaves, not the little annual types they sell everywhere

GIna, I have several with very large leaves that do fine in our climate. One, called 'Lady Vanderwilt' looks a lot like 'Sophie Cecile' on steroids. I have had leaves reach 14". I have another whose name I can't recall at the moment, that has large leaves that look like taffeta. There are others with smaller but still outstanding colors and shapes out there, 'Don Miller' and 'Arabian Sunset' come to mind. I have had excellent luck with some of the rhizomatous begonias. They handle the heat well as long as they get plenty of light - but not full sun. Also, let them dry out in between waterings. They do best in containers for me.
Here are a couple of pics.

YES these are what I want, large growing showy leaves that will fill in the spaces between. I see that the last is an angel wing, what types are the others? I have been reading that some do not like temps over 75F. The tuberous ones are supposedly the most forgiving. That is what the one I have planted in and around and under my big monster bird nest anthurium and bamboo palm is, its called 'Kit Kat' or something to do with 'cat', its kind of a purple and chartreuse combo that is quite appealing. I had a really really cool one years ago called Begonia luxurians. It was palmate and resembled some of the palmate Anthuria. I wish I still had it.

Noooooo, the tuberous ones will never do in our climate. The tubers rot easily in the humidity. There are some like the B. Boliviensis, the one with bright orange flowers, and that does well for a short then it croaks.

The Sophie Cecile and the Lady Vanderwilt are canes the other one, a noid, is a rhizo. Kartuz has some good pictures on their site.
http://www.kartuz.com/

Harmony begonias are located in central FL and they are the only ones I have had trouble growing. I can't figure out why.

Have you seen the newest hardy begonias, some are real stunners.
https://www.plantdelights.com/...

Wow Alice THANKS for the advice and links. I will do my research. Yours are beautiful! I have seen that Boliviensis for sale before in baskets at the box stores. Never tried it, I want large growers that will form nice stands and have staying power!

@ardesia is this a REX? This is one of the ones my friend in Ohio gave me years ago that is doing well

Looks like it. A rex usually has smoother leaves and they often grow from a rhizome just like those known as rhizomatous. Rhizos usually have bumpy or warty leaves and they are often referred to as Rex's. There are so many new hybrids out there the term is used widely for any fancy leaved begonia no matter what they technically are.

Check out the categories and some of the photos, there are a lot of similarities.
http://www.begonias.org/greenh...

Compare it to Eyelash Begonia (Begonia bowerae)

I didn't know that there were hardy Begonias. I've only had them in my greenhouse. There are some really beautiful ones, and I love the large leaves! Thanks Gina, and Alice, for the links and photos. I'm off to see what I can get!

@Danita she called it an eyelash begonia. I didn't really know what that meant. I will have to see if I can find the other one, the Cat one. I think your photo of B. bowerae really may be it! I am wanting to get some begonias now!

Karen, begonias love good drainage which you have plenty of but they also love high humidity which might be difficult in your climate.

I think they'd have to be in the greenhouse. I hang them.

Gottcha,

At the Butterfly Rainforest they had one called PINK SHASTA. It was very tall, maybe 3-4 feet! I think its an angel wing. I wish I had taken a photo of it. It had those beautiful kind of cascading pink flowers and grew in big clumps

That is a pretty one.

Do you exhibit at any garden festivals in the Tampa area? I have a friend there who grows (hybridizes) begonias and he often has a booth.

Also, do you know anything about the Camellia show at Kanapaha on 1/5?

Me exhibit? No, I gave up my growers license long years ago. I had a family emergency that dictated I become a caregiver for almost 10 years. And the Camilla show at Kanapaha is ALWAYS well attended

I meant do you have a booth there yourself, I remember seeing the beaded work you do.

I feel honored! That you may have seen my work exhibited. I only do a few shows a year, maybe 2-3 juried ones, because I cannot make enough pieces to exhibit more often. The past 2 shows I did, In October and November, I sold more than 60% of my inventory and was awarded once. I am currently catching up on commissions generated from those shows and enacting new ideas for new work.