Begonias are beloved for their colorful flowers and attractive foliage that bring cheer to gardens and containers. With their versatility and easy care requirements, these tropical plants thrive indoors and out.
While begonias alone can make lovely displays, combining them with compatible companion plants enhances their beauty and creates more dynamic pots. The right plant partners help begonias look their best while deterring pests, boosting blooms, and filling spaces
It’s important to put plants in containers that have similar needs together. For example, Begonias do best in rich, humus-amended, well-draining soil and part shade. They also need to be watered regularly. Your potted begonias will get along well if you choose friends with similar needs.
Here are 10 winning companion plants for begonias that increase visual interest, provide support, and improve growing conditions:
1. Impatiens
With their profuse blooms in shades like violet, red and white, impatiens make perfect partners for begonias. These shade loving annuals share preferences for rich, moist soil and filtered light. Their shorter bushy habit contrasts nicely with begonias’ taller shapes.
2. Coleus
Grown for its vividly colored and patterned foliage, coleus complements begonias’ flowers. Its sun-loving nature makes it ideal for pairing with sun- tolerant begonia varieties. Coleus’ vivid leaf colors, like burgundy, chartreuse and purple, really make begonias’ pastel blossoms pop.
3. Caladium
The big, heart-shaped leaves of caladium offer great textural contrast to begonias’ rounded foliage. Caladiums also thrive in the warm, humid conditions begonias prefer. Under shady conditions, combine them in pots for lush tropical effects.
4. Ferns
With their graceful, delicate foliage, ferns make excellent companions for begonias. Their lacy fronds contrast beautifully with begonias’ bolder leaves and flowers. Ferns help shade begonia roots while increasing humidity around the plants.
5. Flowering Maple
Abutilons, also called flowering maples, complement begonias with their dangling, bell-shaped blooms on arching stems. Their large, maple-shaped leaves offer nice contrast to begonias’ rounded foliage. Grow them together in partial shade pots.
6. Sweet Alyssum
A fast-growing annual, sweet alyssum blooms prolifically in containers. Its white flowers, which smell like honey, fall gracefully around the edges of pots that have taller begonias in them. Alyssum attracts pollinators and tolerates partial shade.
7. Supertunia® Mini Vista Petunias
For vivid color through summer and fall, petunias can’t be beat. Their mounding form complements upright begonias. Match Supertunias’ bright hues like purple and pink with begonias in sunny pots. Heat and drought tolerant, they flourish alongside sun-loving begonias.
8. Ivy Geraniums
Floriferous ivy geraniums bloom abundantly in containers near begonias. Red, white and bicolored blooms contrast beautifully with begonias’ pastel tones. Geraniums’ cascading stems complement begonias’ upright form, spilling gracefully over pot edges.
9. Polka Dot Plant
Grown for its vividly speckled and veined foliage, polka dot plant serves as a lively accent plant among begonias. Its relatively small size makes it ideal for planting at the front of pots and planters. Partial shade and regular watering keep it happy.
10. Begonia Dragon Wing®
Bring in Dragon Wing begonias for a splash of color. Their extra-large, ruffled orange-red blooms will stand out. They have lots of flower clusters that look great with wax and tuberous begonias. All share preferences for partial shade and moist, rich soil.
You can make beautiful container displays with begonias by putting them together with plants whose colors, shapes, and growth habits go well with theirs. The best plants will grow together if you put sun-lovers with sun-lovers and shade plants with shade plants. After that, enjoy your begonias and other plants that go well with them as they grow in pots together.
Key Takeaways:
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Combine begonias with shade-loving annuals like impatiens and polka dot plants that have contrasting colors and textures.
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Sun-tolerant begonias pair well with coleus, petunias and other sun-loving annuals with vibrant blooms or foliage.
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Caladiums, ferns and flowering maples make great woodland companions for begonias in shady pots.
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Cascading plants like ivy geraniums and sweet alyssum complement begonias’ upright shape while spilling gracefully over container edges.
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Match companion plants’ cultural needs to begonias for optimal results. Provide moist, humus-rich, well-draining soil and partial sun to full shade.
Golden Glory Shade Garden
Shady garden spots are nice and cool in the summer and sometimes they need a little golden glow to warm them up. Yellow Double Begonias and White Double Begonias will brighten up a patio planter all by themselves. Typically, you can fit 3-5 begonia tubers in a 10-12” diameter planter, depending on how full you want the planter to look. If you want to combine the begonia tubers with some green, white and gold foliage plant with Candidum Caladium and Color Festival Hosta for a fresh appearance. These bulbs and perennials don’t have to be planted in a container – they would also fill a shaded garden nook just as well!
Red, White and Blue Shade Garden
Red, white and blue is a famous color combination. They can be seen in the flags of France, the UK, Costa Rica, Chile, the US, and other countries. You could almost say that these colors give the garden a formal look because they are so classic and traditional. Petunias are often planted in deep purple, white and red around Memorial Day. This color scheme is not as easy to achieve in shade gardens but can be done.
Planting the large blue Big Daddy Hosta which has blue leaves sets the stage for this classic color combination. The fine texture of the red blooms and green/red leaves Fanal Red Astilbe plays nicely off the blue leaves of the hosta. White Double Begonias can be planted in the foreground of this combination, or in a near-by hanging basket. White Begonias, Big Daddy Hosta, and Fanal Astible are a classic, crisp and clean combination of red, white and blue for shade gardens.
Best Care Tips for Your BEGONIAS – Talking About Tuberous & Hiemalis Begonias
FAQ
What goes well with begonias in pots?
Plants That Grow Well with BegoniasFerns: Because their leaves are so delicate and lacy, they look great with begonias in shady garden areas, giving the garden a lush, woodland feel. Hostas: Like begonias, hostas are shade-loving plants with interesting foliage.
Do begonias like sun or shade?
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Partial Shade:Many begonias, especially those with green leaves, do well in partial shade, which mimics their natural habitat as forest understory plants.
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Morning Sun, Afternoon Shade:This is ideal for most begonias, as it provides bright light without the harsh afternoon sun that can scorch leaves.
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Full Sun:Some varieties, like certain wax begonias, can handle full sun, especially if they have bronze leaves.
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Avoid Direct Sunlight:Too much direct sunlight can burn the delicate leaves of many begonia varieties, particularly those with green leaves.
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Indoor Placement:When grown indoors, begonias should be placed near a bright window, but out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorch.
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Variety Matters:The light requirements can vary slightly depending on the begonia variety, so it’s helpful to check the specific needs of the plant you’re growing.
Can petunias and begonias be planted together?
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- Thrive in full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight per day).
- Prefer well-drained soil.
- Need consistent watering.
- Thrive in full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight per day).
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- Prefer partial shade or dappled sunlight.
- Can be susceptible to sunburn in full sun.
- Prefer consistently moist, but not soggy, soil.
- Prefer partial shade or dappled sunlight.
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Planting Together:
- If you want to plant them together, consider the location: place petunias in the sunniest part of the container or garden bed, and begonias in a slightly shadier area.
- You can also use different sized pots or containers to create a tiered display, with petunias in the larger, sunnier pot and begonias in a smaller, shadier pot.
- Some begonia varieties are more sun-tolerant than others, so research the specific types you plan to use.
- If you want to plant them together, consider the location: place petunias in the sunniest part of the container or garden bed, and begonias in a slightly shadier area.
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Other Considerations:
- When planting, ensure that the soil is well-drained to prevent root rot in both plants.
- Regularly water the plants, but avoid overwatering, especially begonias.
- Fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth and flowering.
- When planting, ensure that the soil is well-drained to prevent root rot in both plants.
Do begonias like to be in bigger pots?
… pick a pot that is at least twice as wide and deep as the one you got from the nursery, or even bigger if you want to group your begonias together for a bigger look.