Enjoy Begonias, Dahlias, Zinnias and Fuchsias

Written by Marge B.

There are over a thousand species of Begonia plants. Some varieties of Begonias thrive when planted in your garden and other types do better on a shady porch or inside the house. Begonia is considered an annual plant because these plants do not tolerate the chilly winter climate. There are four types of Begonias. These include fibrous or wax, tuberous, rhizomatous, and hardy. Fibrous or wax Fibrous Begonias have colorful flowers, a compact shape, and rounded green, bronze, or variegated leaves. Tuberous begonias thrive in shady locations. You can grow Begonias in containers or plant them in the garden as bedding plants. Rhizomatous Begonia leaves have intricate patterns and almost no earth tone color. There are striking differences in the varieties of Begonias from hairy leaves to round and shiny leaves. Begonia grandis, commonly known as the hardy begonia, has simple leaves on arching stems. The flowers are pink or white, and typically bloom until late summer. Green Thumb Nursery has beautiful varieties of Begonias. The Begonia ‘Maculata’ is a beautiful species. This Begonia has polka dots, and is native to southeast Brazil. The Begonia ‘Rex’ is the king of the Begonia family of plants. It is native to southeast China and parent to over 500 species. Inside your home, enjoy your Begonia plants in indirect light. Attractive and unique Begonia plants can be located at each of the Green Thumb Nursery locations Orange County Garden Center, San Diego Garden Center located in San Marcos, Los Angeles and at Garden Centers located in Canoga Park or Santa Clarita and the Ventura County Garden Center located in Ventura. You can order these beautiful houseplants online from Green Thumb Nursery from the online website.

Dahlias

Dahlias have rows of petals similar in appearance to daisies. They come in a variety of colors and can grow to a height of 2 to 3 feet. Dahlias are tubers and bloom through the summer into early fall. They look beautiful in your garden and can also look lovely as a cut-flower in a vase. Dahlia flowers are known to convey many meanings. They symbolize beauty, eternal love, kindness, and inner strength. In Mexico, the Dahlia was known to symbolize grace under pressure. There are 42 distinct species of Dahlias. You can find the Venti™ Passion Fruit Dahlia at the Green Thumb Nursery locations. Venti™ Passion Fruit Dahlia features showy pink daisy flowers at the ends of the stems from early to late summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its pointy leaves remain dark green throughout the season.

This Dahlia has a large flower of beautiful pink double blooms, sitting above deep green foliage; a lovely accent feature in patio containers and flower beds; perfect for fresh cut flower arrangements. Venti™ Passion Fruit Dahlia will grow to be about 16 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 16 inches. Venti™ Passion Fruit Dahlia will grow to be about 16 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 16 inches. Another lovely Dahlia that has a different appearance is the Happy Single Wink Dahlia. This Dahlia has large lavender flowers with pink centers. These Dahlia plants look stunning in the garden as a border plant. They also look lovely in a floral arrangement. They attract butterflies and bees.

Zinnias

Zinnias are bright and cheerful flowers that add a spot of color and cheer to your garden. Zinnias are easy to grow and will bloom all summer. Zinnias are native to Mexico and Central America. The Aztecs originally called them “plants that are hard on the eyes” because of their colorful flowers. They look like daisy-like flowers. There are 21 distinct types of Zinnias ranging in size from 6-inches to 4 feet tall. There is Navajo folklore associated with Zinnias. According to folklore, the Navajo believe that yellow zinnias were sent by the “ever-changing-woman,” a Mother Nature figure, to help lead a Navajo child called Straight-arrow, a means to prevent the destruction of crops. According to legend, that is why the Navajo tribes planted yellow zinnias in their corn fields, for the protection of crops from the elements. Profusion Double Golden Zinnia is available at Green Thumb Nursery locations. The Profusion Double Golden Zinnia features bold gold pincushion flowers at the ends of the stems from mid-spring to late summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its pointy leaves remain green throughout the season. Profusion Double Golden Zinnia is an annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. This is a minimal maintenance plant. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It is an excellent choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard.

Fuchsias

The family of Fuchsias includes 100 species. Fuchsias are native to South America, but also popular in Central America and in New Zealand and Tahiti. Fuchsias are ideally suited for hanging baskets because of their drooping stems and colorful, bell-shaped flowers. In general, fuchsias prefer cool daytime temperatures. The cool night temperatures are especially important during early spring growth. Flowering ceases when the average daily temperature rises above 76 ºF. During the

Season, water when the soil surface feels dry. In the fall, gradually reduce watering and extend the periods between watering to prepare the fuchsia for a winter rest. The Green Thumb Nursery locations have several beautiful fuchsia plants available. Bella Fuchsia® Evita Fuchsia.  The Bella Fuchsia is ideal for planting in and hanging baskets. The flowers of this fuchsia feature dainty nodding white bell-shaped flowers with a cherry-red hint of color which makes the shrub extremely attractive to hummingbirds. The Bella Fuchsia is perfect for patio container pots in sun or shade. It will bloom from late spring to mid-fall. This Fuchsia is a minimal maintenance shrub and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season’s flowers. It is an excellent choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. Bella Fuchsia® Evita Fuchsia makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers.  The Blue Eyes Fuchsia is perfect for hanging baskets, patio containers and window boxes. Blue Eyes Fuchsia features dainty nodding purple frilly flowers with a hint of lilac purple and pink dangle from medium green foliage; adaptable as a houseplant; minimal maintenance. The Blue Eyes Fuchsia will bloom from mid-summer to early fall. It has green evergreen foliage. The pointy leaves remain green throughout the winter. This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep and pruning after the flowering season to avoid removing any new flower blooms. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. Blue Eyes Fuchsia will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Under ideal conditions, it can live for approximately 8 years.

Do you like what you see? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get content like this every week!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!