B. ‘It’

Begonia "It" By Bernice Brilmayer. One of Leslie Woodriff's most delightful and charming hybrid begonias is "It"-a cross made in 1941, B. socotrana x rex. It's an unusual name, and certainly an unusual plant, combining the best qualities of both parents. I'ts easy to imagine that, one day, Mr. Woodriff might have eyed this one outstanding plant among many seedlings and said, "This is It.'' And thus, it might have been named. B. "It" has richly colored and marked foliage of the rexes-but it flowers profusely. It has the clear, pink, abundant flowers of its tuberous parent-but it does not go dormant. It is neither too rank and robust, nor too delicate for the windowsill grower to enjoy. . "It's" habit is upright and branching; it grows bushy and compact. Its leaves are rather like a smaller version of B. rex "It" is wonderfully floriferous-seems to be constantly in flower, or ready to flower, the year 'round. Culture seems to be easy. In my cellar, fluorescent-light "greenhouse" it has neither dropped leaves, dried up, nor contracted disease. No problems, in fact, except that I can't keep it! Visitors admire it so enthusiastically, I can't resist giving it away-and then order another, and start again with a small plant. It propagates as easily as it grows-by stem cuttings, or by leaf. And when my latest purchase arrived, I took cuttings immediately so I could be sure to have B. "It" on hand. This plant probably is not rare in the West. But in New York, it's still much sought-after. As far as I know, only Merry Gardens, in Maine, and Logee's, in Connecticut, have it for sale. But it's worth seeking. Because it's so charming, so satisfactory, because-"This is It.'''
Pests Diseases

• Classification: Cultivar
• Plant Type: Rex Cultorum
• Origin: America, USA
• Originator: Leslie Woodriff
• Date of Origin: 1949