There are hundreds of species and related cultivars within the Begonia genus.
The Royal Horticultural Society has broken the genus into 7 main groups based on growth habit and cultivation needs and we will use these groupings.
Winter flowering begonia tend to be low growing with a compact rounded growth habit. They have soft and succulent foliage, with asymmetrical green or bronze-green leaves.
During winter and early spring they produce a spectacular display of multicoloured rose like flowers often edged in contrasting colours.
Flowers can be single or double, often frilled and are large in this hybrid group.
Mostly used for temporary indoor colour display as they have a tendency to die after flowering.
There are two main groups:
The Lorraine or Cheimantha Begonia x cheimantha begonia these tend to have single flowers
The Elatior and Rieger begonia Begonia x hiemalis that tend to have semi double or double flowers.
The following hybrids are included in this group are:
Begonia 'Barcos' - with double dark crimson flowers
Begonia 'Futta' - with semi double yellow flowers
Begonia 'Gloire de Lorraine' - with panicles of pink flowers
Begonia 'Kleo' - with semi double coral pink flowers
Begonia 'Yellow Moody' - with single primose yellow flowers