Wax begonias are tender perennials that bring reliable color to gardens from May through September, even in challenging hot and humid summers. The 'Harmony Scarlet' cultivar features compact, mounded growth reaching just 6 to 9 inches tall and wide, with fleshy stems and waxy dark green to bronze leaves that set off brilliant scarlet flowers in loose clusters. Hardy in zones 10 and 11, they're grown as annuals almost everywhere else and adapt readily to conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade, making them dependable performers for mixed borders, containers, and shaded beds.
12
Partial Sun
Moderate
10-11
9in H x 9in W
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High
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Scarlet flowers bloom continuously throughout the warm season on compact plants that rarely exceed 9 inches, and the foliage itself is ornamental, ranging from dark green to bronze depending on light exposure. Bronze-leaved forms tolerate intense sun better than their green counterparts, while all wax begonias handle considerable shade without fading. Their waxy leaves and fleshy stems give them a distinctive textural quality that adds depth to garden beds and containers.
Wax begonias thrive as bedding plants in annual borders and mixed containers, where their compact size and continuous blooms create dependable color from late spring through early fall. They excel in shaded garden beds where many annuals struggle, and their ornamental foliage makes them valuable even when flowers fade temporarily. Gardeners also use them in window boxes and hanging baskets to add texture and color to porches and patios.
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Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost. Begonia seeds are tiny and shouldn't be covered with soil; press them gently onto moist seed-starting mix and maintain high humidity under lights or a propagation dome. Keep temperatures around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings emerge in 15 to 20 days and grow slowly initially.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days, then transplant outdoors after all frost danger has passed and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 6 to 9 inches apart, matching their mature width.
Pinch back young stems to encourage bushier, more compact growth and increase flowering. As plants mature through the season, remove any leggy or overgrown stems to maintain tidy, mounded shape.
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“Wax begonias belong to the Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum group, a collection of cultivated hybrid begonias that emerged from deliberate breeding programs combining multiple begonia species to create compact, floriferous garden plants. These hybrids were developed to emphasize traits gardeners value: dense, bushy form; prolific flowering; and tolerance for heat and humidity. The 'Harmony' series represents modern selections within this long-established group, chosen specifically for vigor and color intensity.”