Annual · Begoniaceae family

Wax begonia

Begonia (Semperflorens-Cultorum Group)

Full sun to shade 0.15–0.3 m × 0.15–0.3 m Flowers May–October Low maintenance
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

LightFull sun to shade
Size0.15–0.3 m
spacing 25 cm
FlowersMay–October
PlantingMay
Care levelLow maintenance

Where to plant and how much to water

Light, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistnot fussy about soil

Watering

keep the soil evenly moistless when it rains

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.15–0.3 mspread 0.15–0.3 m
0.15–0.3 m× spread 0.15–0.3 m

Plant 25 cm apart.

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberSowing: JanuarySowing: FebruarySowing: MarchSowing: AprilSowing: MaySowing: JuneSowing: JulySowing: AugustSowing: SeptemberSowing: OctoberSowing: NovemberSowing: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersSowingPlanting
Now, in October: nothing to do — the next job is in February.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–October · pink, red or white

Sowing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

sow indoors: February–March

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

transplant outdoors: May

Feeding

Nutrition.

Light
high-potash fertiliser

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

Grey mould

Botrytis cinerea
Medium riskdisease
More about this problem

What you will see

Fuzzy grey-brown mould on dying buds, leaves, flowers and fruit.

The source says: it is among the annuals susceptible to grey mould.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Reduce humidity, improve airflow and do not plant too densely.
  2. By handQuickly remove dead and affected parts (carefully, as spores spread easily), ideally into a bag.
Grey moulddiseaseMedium risk

What you will see

Fuzzy grey-brown mould on dying buds, leaves, flowers and fruit.

The source says: it is among the annuals susceptible to grey mould.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Reduce humidity, improve airflow and do not plant too densely.
  2. By handQuickly remove dead and affected parts (carefully, as spores spread easily), ideally into a bag.
More about this problem

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

The source says: under glass it is among the crops prone to powdery mildew.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand autumnPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
Powdery mildewsdiseaseMedium risk

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

The source says: under glass it is among the crops prone to powdery mildew.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand autumnPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
More about this problem
Vine weevil

Vine weevil

Otiorhynchus sulcatus
Medium riskpest
More about this problem

What you will see

Adult weevils chew notches in leaf edges; white grubs eat the roots, especially in containers, and the plant wilts.

The source says: it is among the other susceptible plants.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check container plants often and look for notches on the leaves.
  2. By handCollect the adult weevils in the evening with a torch; when repotting, remove the grubs from the roots.
  3. BiologicalNematodes that attack the grubs can be watered into the compost.
Vine weevilpestMedium risk

What you will see

Adult weevils chew notches in leaf edges; white grubs eat the roots, especially in containers, and the plant wilts.

The source says: it is among the other susceptible plants.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check container plants often and look for notches on the leaves.
  2. By handCollect the adult weevils in the evening with a torch; when repotting, remove the grubs from the roots.
  3. BiologicalNematodes that attack the grubs can be watered into the compost.
More about this problem

What you will see

White cottony tufts on leaves and in leaf axils.

How to protect

  1. Gentle sprayInsecticidal soap or ultrafine oil, applied to the growing tips.
Mealybugspest

What you will see

White cottony tufts on leaves and in leaf axils.

How to protect

  1. Gentle sprayInsecticidal soap or ultrafine oil, applied to the growing tips.
More about this problem

What you will see

Silvery speckling of leaves and flowers.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Outdoors, plants usually survive even with silvery speckling; encourage natural enemies.
  2. BiologicalPredatory bug Orius laevigatus and mites (mainly in the greenhouse).
Thripspest

What you will see

Silvery speckling of leaves and flowers.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Outdoors, plants usually survive even with silvery speckling; encourage natural enemies.
  2. BiologicalPredatory bug Orius laevigatus and mites (mainly in the greenhouse).
More about this problem

What you will see

Clusters of tiny sap-sucking insects on young shoots, curled leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould.

When to look

Spring – summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Aphids are part of a healthy garden and food for predators; a healthy plant usually tolerates them.
  2. By handWipe or rinse off colonies and remove affected tips.
  3. BiologicalEncourage natural enemies (ladybirds, earwigs, birds).
Aphidspest · spring – summer

What you will see

Clusters of tiny sap-sucking insects on young shoots, curled leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould.

When to look

Spring – summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Aphids are part of a healthy garden and food for predators; a healthy plant usually tolerates them.
  2. By handWipe or rinse off colonies and remove affected tips.
  3. BiologicalEncourage natural enemies (ladybirds, earwigs, birds).
More about this problem

What you will see

Softening and browning of the base of stems.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Free-draining soil, airy spacing.
  2. By hand once noticedRemove affected stems.
Fungal stem rotdisease

What you will see

Softening and browning of the base of stems.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Free-draining soil, airy spacing.
  2. By hand once noticedRemove affected stems.
More about this problem
Sources (9)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does wax begonia flower?

In May–October; the flowers are pink, red or white.

When do I sow wax begonia?

In February–March (sow indoors).

Does wax begonia tolerate shade?

Yes, it tolerates full shade.

How much space does wax begonia need?

At maturity 0.15–0.3 m wide and 0.15–0.3 m tall; recommended spacing 25 cm.

Grey mould — what can you do?

Reduce humidity, improve airflow and do not plant too densely. Quickly remove dead and affected parts (carefully, as spores spread easily), ideally into a bag.

Powdery mildews — what can you do?

Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew). Prune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.

Sources (8) Checked 24 October 2026

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