Angel wing begonias have become as popular as their cousins, the small wax begonias, once were. While the petite annuals were planted to create a ground cover of color in a landscape, angel wing begonias are frequently grown in planter combinations or small garden beds. The tall annual begonia is appreciated for its height and cascading clusters of blooms, which attract attention to the simplest mix.
Begonia with Vibrant Perilla and Lysimachia Colors
Perilla and Lysimachia brings vibrant colors to a combination mixed with angel wing begonias. Perilla frutescens ‘Magilla’ is widely used for the bright red center on a background of green and purple foliage. Very upright, the plant is grown for its fragrant high-impact leaves, not flowers. The leaves of the species, Perilla frutescens, are a palette of shiny purplish hues marked with feathered margins.
Lysimachia, commonly called creeping Jenny, will rapidly lay a mat down of tiny chartreuse leaves and vines. While it gets too aggressive in a flower bed, the cascading 1’ – 3’ long stems are easy to keep in check spilling over the rim of a container. Creeping Jenny requires a sunny location to maintain the bright chartreuse color.
Perilla and Lysimachia will grow in full sun to part shade. The combination needs planting in a moist well-draining soil and, where drought conditions exist, additional water offered.
Angel Wing Flower Ornamental Pepper Fruit and Myersii Foliage
Gardeners looking for a variety of flower, fruit and foliage in their combo pot will like growing angel wing begonia with an ornamental pepper plant and the Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii.’
Houseplant growers familiar with Asparagus ferns, for the wispy cascading fronds, will be surprised by Myersii’s upright form. Against the dark leaves of ornamental pepper plants, Myersii’s light green brightens the mix.
Capsicum annuum cultivars used to decorate a garden are edible but more often produces very spicy or bitter tasting fruit. Mixing pepper plants labeled “ornamental” with those grown for a kitchen garden in the same space is not recommended. Capsicum annuum ‘Black Pearl,’ in this combo example, has dark shiny round fruit and dark purple foliage; however many contrasting fruit and foliage pairs include:
- C. ‘Chilly Chili’ evolves from yellow to orange to red colors on the oblong fruit.
- C. ‘Tricolor Variegatum’ places emphasis on the leaves with purple, green and cream colors.
- C. ‘Uchu’™ has elongated variegated leaves of green and cream and yellow to red oblong fruit.
Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’ has fleshy roots able to store water, seeing it through dry weather, and thrives in part shade requiring little fertilizer. Pepper plants are heavy feeders whether the fruits are grown for food or used to decorate a garden.
Sweet Potato Vines with Begonia Combos
Whether to use sweet potato vines with begonias is an easy choice. The challenge is in picking which type of sweet potato vine for the pot. Sweet potato vines and angel wing begonias are compatible, each able to thrive in full to part sun and moist well-draining soil.
Ipomoea batatas is used for its short trailing and filler aspects. Leaf shape and size will determine the look of a combination, how plants may play off each other:
- I. Illusion® Lace series includes dark purple with maroon veining, lime green and rust coloring varieties all with highly dissected leaves.
- I. ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’ described by Ray Rogers in The Encyclopedia of Container Plants as, “sugary caramely butterscotch colors.” The sweet potato vine has heart-shaped leaves.
- I. ‘Margarita’ is an old standby having been available to gardeners since 1994. The large heart-shaped leaves of lime green are still a favorite for mixed-plant combinations.
Sweet potato vines make economical fillers. But, they do overtake plants that have difficulty competing with an Ipomoea’s assertive nature. Called a filler or spiller in plant-combining design parlance, Ipomoea batatas cultivars are easy to control by cutting back stems.
Blue Lobelia Creeping Under Tall Begonia Plants
Annual Lobelia erinus is recognized by the petite throated flowers and short plant form. Growing to 6” or less, the plant will spread a foot in all directions, although some cultivars have a better trailing habit than others.
Lobelia erinus wants to grow in a sunny location, however the plant will shut down during the hottest mid-summer days. Like angel wing begonias, the annual prefers moist well-draining soil and a well-watered garden.
Lobelia erinus ‘Crystal Palace’ is deservedly favored for its deep indigo blue flowers and reddish tinged leaves. Laguna™ Compact Blue with Eye is a longer trailing Lobelia whose bloom has a more obvious white center. The series comes in lilac, pink and white colors, too. Whichever small annual is chosen, spacing is important for the petite plants to peek through the larger leaves of an angel wing begonia.
Is it Angel Wing or Dragon Wing Begonias
Both called cane begonias by the American Begonia Society, angel wing is one type of the upright form with its thick stems and leaves of a triangular shape. The purely green leaf with a softer edge seems appropriately called angel wing. In contrast are the sharp jagged margins of what gardeners aptly label dragon wing, such as seen on Begonia ‘Guy Savard.’ Although the Rex begonia has a rough appearance, this type of Begonia does not have a cane-like stem structure and is adapted for a shadier location.
Angel wing begonias grow to 2’ – 3’ tall. One 12” flowering pot will be stuffed by summer’s end, when planted with three pellets at the start of growing season. Gardeners love the cascading clusters that dangle and bobble from the long flower stems. The plant generally has a vertical habit but some cultivars are known to go horizontal, spacing important in planning the garden. As demonstrated by the mixed plant combinations, angel wing begonias will tolerate full sun gardens. However, there are flowering begonias for shadier places.
Source:
Rogers, Ray. The Encyclopedia of Container Plants. Timber Press, 2010.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
Chris Eirschele - Chris writes on plants grown and gardens explored; she is a member of the Garden Writers Association.
