Cultivar
B. ‘Mrs. Heal’
Photos
5 photos
Identity
- Genus
- Begonia
- Name
- B. ‘Mrs. Heal’
- Date of Origin
- 1897
- Plant Type
- Hiemalis
- Publication Reference
- GA; WBHC-WW
- Article References
- The Gardeners' chronicle, ser. 3, v. 43 (1908); The century supplement to the dictionary of gardening… by Geo. Nicholson [et al.]. Hyde Park, Mass. Geo. T. King ;1901. Page 138-42 http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/48615; The Gardeners' Chronicle, ser. 3, v. 67, 1920
Plant
- Description
- The Gardeners' chronicle, ser. 3, v. 43 (1908) B. Mrs. Heal: One of the most interesting and valuable sections into which winter-blooming Begonias may now be divided is the type which Messrs. James Veitch & Sons have raised by crossing the tuberous-rooted varieties with Begonia socotrana. The first hybrid was distributed in 1883 under the name of John Heal, in compliment to their skillful plant-breeder, whose successful work is illustrated in these Begonias as in many other plants. Since that time a considerable number of varieties have been first exhibited at the shows and subsequently distributed in gardens. The variety Mrs. John Heal was sent out in 1893. The flowers are about 2 inches wide, the petals equal and overlapping, rich rosy-red, produced freely on plants 1 foot high (see fig. 71). In the Supplementary Illustration is shown a batch of plants which were cultivated at Eshton Hall, the residence of Sir M. Wilson, Bart, and they represent such successful culture we have pleasure in reproducing the following information kindly supplied by Mr. Leon Squibbs, the gardener at that place. "The cuttings were taken in March, and inserted in a compost of peat moss in the stove. As soon as they had made roots, each plant was potted singly into a pot 3 inches in diameter, using a potting compost of loam, leaf mold, peat, and sand in equal proportions, all the materials having first been passed through a ¾ inch sieve. When they had rooted sufficiently, they were repotted into pots 5 inches in diameter, the compost being fibrous loam, leaf- mold, and peat in equal parts, with some dried cow manure and a little sand. They were finally potted into 7 and 8-inch pots, a similar compost, with a little soot and bone meal added, being again used. The plants were cultivated in a moist stove atmosphere from start to finish, but they were shaded from hot sunshine. They were watered twice weekly, either with liquid manure from the farmyard, or after an application of Clay's fertilizer, and occasionally with soot water. All the flower-buds that appeared before September were pinched off, but after that time the plants were allowed to flower. Many of the sprays were 1 foot to 1 foot 6 inches, and the bloom 2 inches in diameter. It is advantageous to remove the plants into a house of intermediate temperature after they have developed a considerable number of flowers, as this ensures a longer period of blooming, and the plants are rendered more serviceable for house decoration; they have proved invaluable here for this purpose. Begonia Mrs. Heal surpasses Gloire de Lorraine in effectiveness. This latter Begonia is given the same treatment, and the plants have measured 3 feet in diameter and as much in height." It may be added that this type of Begonia, combining as it does characteristics of the tuberous-rooted and fibrous-rooted species, needs to be treated very carefully as soon as the flowering season is past. At that time the plants are busy forming tubers, as the tuberous species would do, and also producing growths from the axils of the leaves, which is a characteristic of the fibrous-rooted species. They should be kept in a warm, freely-ventilated house, and watered sparingly about once each week. The culture should be directed to getting the tuber to swell properly and to mature fully, for which purpose it is necessary to keep the leaves healthy and green as long as possible. When the young growths from the axils of the leaves have become long enough, they may be removed for use as cuttings for the increase of stock. At the be- ginning of the month of June, the plants should be cut down to about 2 inches from the base; and they may then be cultivated for another season, but should not be hastened into growth by exciting culture.; Mrs. Heal, the best variety yet raised, flowers rose-carmine, 3” in diameter, leaves like those of John Heal, habit erect.; The Gardeners' Chronicle, ser. 3, v. 67, 1920 Begonia socotrana was discovered by Professor Bailey Balfour, of the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens on the island of Socotra, and the plant was put into commerce by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons. This species is remarkable in that it is the originator of two distinct races of winter-flowering Begonias. It does not, belong to the shrubby or evergreen kinds or to the tuberous flowering section, but has clusters of bulbils at its base, from each of which a plant, is developed. During the summer it goes to rest, and commences to grow actively again in the early autumn. Begonia socotrana is a handsome, free-flowering species and has proved a useful plant for the warm greenhouse. The foliage is very distinct. Messrs. Veitch were not long in proving its good qualities for hybridizing purposes. They produced from it a new race of winter-flowering hybrids of beautiful and brilliant colors, which have proved most useful for the decoration of conservatories and greenhouses during this dull season. The members of this section are all the result of crosses effected between B. socotrana and summer-flowering, tuberous-rooted species. The habit of the hybrids is intermediate and quite distinct from that of both parents. While they partake of the winter flowering character or B. socotrana, the flowers have the large size and the many bright colors of the other parent. All these winter flowering Begonias possess a strong, vigorous constitution. The single and semi-double varieties withstand fog and dull weather far better than the double sorts. The doubles drop t heir flowers quickly and the trusses hang heavily on the plant, whilst those of the singles and semi-doubles are poised gracefully and the blooms remain fresh for a long time. Amongst. The best of the first hybrids are ‘Elatior’, with semi-double flowers of rose-carmine; this variety has a neat, compact habit, and is very free flowering. ‘Ideala’ has semi-double, bright, rose-carmine flowers and blooms freely. ‘Mrs. Heal’, has single flowers, each 3 to 3 ½ inches in diameter, colored rose-carmine, toned with scarlet; the plant is a vigorous grower and the trusses hang gracefully. Other good varieties are ‘Winter Cheer’ with semi-double, rose-carmine colored flowers, each more than 3 inches in diameter. ‘Ensign’, with semi-double flowers of light carmine color toned with scarlet, and ‘Winter Perfection’, semi-double, bright rose pink; a very distinct shade. Later hybrids superior to some of the older varieties· are: ‘Emita’, single, orange-scarlet, flowers 3 to 3 ½ inches in diameter. This Begonia was illustrated in colors in The Gardeners' Chronicle, Nov 1, 1913; ‘Exquisite’, single, a fine salmon-pink variety with a lighter center. ‘Fascination’, single, rich apricot, shaded salmon; ‘The Gem’, a semi-double variety of great merit, very floriferous, with intense brilliant rosy-scarlet flowers; ‘Rose Queen’, single, deep rose in color, and very distinct; ‘Admiration’, a variety of very compact, habit, producing single, fine bronze yellow blossoms; and ‘Optima’, single, of good habit, with pale yellowish-salmon flowers, a fine decorative variety. A successful grower of this Begonia writes: “I wonder the members of the trade do not grow ‘Optima’, by the thousands, or tens of thousands would not be too many if grown in large 60 or 48-sized pots, as a market decorative plant." There are several others, but those enumerated are the best. The plants are easily propagated from cuttings at any time between May and August. The later cuttings make young plants that are a mass or flower from November to January. B. socotrana also crossed readily with the shrubby or evergreen species before mentioned, and gave another race of plants unrivalled for their free flowering, free growing, and compact habit. They are suitable for all kinds of winter decoration. Begonia ‘Gloire de Lorraine’, is one of the most popular indoor flowers and is extensively grown in hanging baskets. It was raised by Mon. Lemoine, nurseryman of Nancy. ‘Agatha’, resembles the variety ‘Gloire de Lorraine’ but has larger flowers of richer color, and the blooms are more lasting when used for house decoration. Other good Begonias of this section are ‘Agatha compacta’, a, free-flowering, dwarf growing variety; ‘Mrs. Leopold de Rothschild’, a vigorous grower, and ‘Turnford Hall’, blush white. The noble variety, ‘Gloire de Sceaux’ (see Fig. 19) has leaves of bronzy, metallic luster, crimson beneath; the flowers, which are freely produced, are bright rose pink. During the past few years many other Begonias of great merit have been raised in this country, on the Continent, and in America. All the winter flowering Begonias are easy of cultivation if given proper care and attention, and kept free from insect pests. They should be grown in a house having a temperature of about 55° in winter; in a warmer house they are liable to become infested with insects. The cultivator should be careful not to give the plants too much water before they are well rooted, as overwatering is as injurious as overpotting. A moderate amount of air should be admitted when the state of the weather permits. The houses should be damped two or three times daily, Winter flowering Begonias should be allowed to rest during early spring and summer, and under no circumstances should they be treated as are the summer tuberous varieties. They commence to make their growth after resting and when the shoots are about 3 inches high they are suitable for making cuttings. During the resting season the plants require very little water at the roots, only sufficient to keep them moderately moist. Do not repot the plants until they have started into growth. When repotting is done remove most of the old soil, and use larger pots as required. The compost should consist of about two-thirds light, turfy loam, and one-third fibrous peat or leaf-mold with silver sand added. The greatest secret in the successful cultivation of these Begonias is to keep the plants clean and free from insect pests. - John Heal, V. M. H.
Lineage
Parents
No parentage recorded.
Descendants
No recorded descendants.
Culture
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