Begonia Big series

* Common name: Begonia Big series

Big Red is at left in a pot, while Big Rose flowers are at right.

* Botanical name: Begonia hybrid Big series

* What it is: A line of hefty, big-leafed hybrid begonias that bloom heavily all summer. They’re very heat-tolerant and come in five combinations of red, pink or rose flowers with green or bronzy leaves.

* Size: 2 feet tall and wide.

* Where to use: Sold mainly for use in pots and baskets although they also perform well when planted in the ground. Does well pretty much everywhere from full sun to full shade.

* Care: Plant out after frost. In a pot, water daily when it doesn’t rain, and fertilize with a half-strength flower fertilizer every two weeks. Can be grown indoors over winter as a houseplant and re-used the following year outside again. Frost will kill them.

* Great partner: In a pot, they’re big enough to stand alone. Or use them around a burgundy-tinted grassy or spiky centerpiece, such as pennisetum ‘Rubrum,’ pennisetum ‘Fireworks’ or any cordyline.