About
Begonia 'Alto Scharff' is a bushy plant that can reach a height of 60 cm. Its leaves are ovate and dark green, measuring up to 20 cm in length, and are covered with soft, fuzzy hairs, featuring red undersides. In spring and summer, this variety produces loose clusters of white flowers on red stems.
About the genus
Begonias can be found as annuals, evergreen or deciduous perennials, or shrubs. They possess fibrous, tuberous, or rhizomatous root systems. The leaves are typically asymmetrical and frequently feature distinctive patterns. Flowers can vary in size and include both male and female forms within the same cluster.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1B
Plant details
- Plant type
- Houseplants
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants
- Toxicity
- Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Under glass, grow in well-drained, neutral to slightly acid, peat-free, loam-based compost in bright, filtered light with shade from hot sun. See begonias: houseplants for further information
- Pruning
- Pinch out the growing tips twice during the growing season to promote bushiness
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, or by tip, stem or leaf cuttings
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to caterpillars, mealy bugs, mites, glasshouse thrips, vine weevil and aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to grey moulds, powdery mildews, stem rot and rhizome rot