B. ‘Southgate’

Begonia 'Southgate' - This cultivar was named for the city that hosted the ABS Board of Directors' meetings for many years. It is a cross of Begonia conchifolia var. rubrimacula and an unidentified Costa Rican species that Rudy Ziesenhenne introduced with the number 3842 some years ago. A strikingly handsome rhizomatous plant, B. 'Southgate' has bright green peltate leaves with a red central dot and some red veining. The petiole and the veins on the upper side of the leaf are covered with a buff-colored mat of hairs. The petioles reach 10" and have a stocky appearance. Thus, the flowers are well above the foliage. The flower spike and the stipules are covered with the same buff colored, velvety mat. The bracts are edged in bright rose. A profusion of buds bursts forth pink in color, but as the flowers open the first blossoms are white trimmed with bright green and the ones following are pink, a delightful thing to watch. The plant is easy to grow and to propagate. It should be a good shade garden plant for warm climates and a good window and house plant otherwise, as it is full and showy.
Pests Diseases

• Classification: Cultivar
• Plant Type: Rhizomatous
• Origin: America, USA
• Date of Origin: 1987