Tuberous Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset'

This award-winning tuberous begonia is a powerhouse of colour for UK hanging baskets and pots. 'Santa Cruz Sunset' produces a cascading mass of fiery orange-red, bell-shaped flowers that resemble those of a Fuchsia. Its foliage is equally attractive, with serrated, dark green leaves that often have a red tint. It is exceptionally resilient for a begonia, coping well with heat and periods of drought, as well as the more typical cool, wet UK summer. Flowering is prolific from June until October. It reaches a height of about 30cm but with a much wider spread as it trails over the edges of containers. As a tuberous type, it should be started into growth in a warm place in March and moved outdoors only after all risk of frost has passed in late May. In autumn, the tubers can be dried off and stored in a frost-free place for the following year. It is a low-maintenance, high-impact choice.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moist but well-drained, fertile compost.

Hardiness: H2 — down to 1°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.