Cultivar

B. ‘Di-Shasta’

Photos

2 photos

Identity

Genus: Begonia
Name: B. ‘Di-Shasta’
Originator: A. D. Robinson
Date of Origin: 1938
Place: California
Country: USA
Region: America
Plant Type: Cane-like
Female Parent: B. dichroa
Male Parent: B. ‘Shasta’
Publication Reference: ADR; BL 12-d08;
Article References: The Begonian, Dec. 1952 p. 265;

Plant

Description: The Begonian, Dec. 1952 p. 265. Begonia x Di-Shasta - By Marie Minter, Encinitas, California Before attempting to describe this particular begonia, a word of explanation is called for, because of variations between different plants. Mrs. Robinson made the original cross about 1938. As is customary with crosses of this kind, many plants should be grown to determine which is the best of the group. However, visitors at the Rosecroft gardens fell in love with the plants while they were still in flats, and a good many plants were sold before the name was officially given to any plant in the group. So, there will be variations between different plants grown in different gardens. Consequently, we here in California have been reluctant to call anyone particular plant by the name of either 'Di-Anna', 'Di-Erna' or 'Di-Shasta'. Rather we call them a "series" by any of the above names. The 'Di-Shasta' series was a cross of B. x Shasta x B. dichroa. It is the tallest and largest leaved of Mrs. Robinson's crosses. I have seen plants here that have gone to over six feet in height. The leaves are shaped more on the B. dichroa order. They vary only in the coloring on the back of the leaves. The surface of the leaf is green but the coloring on the back varies from a reddish flush to a full red. The flowers are large and range in color from a pure scarlet to a scarlet with orange overtones, depending on the plant. Some of the plants in this group seem to want to reach the sky without many leaves on the lower parts of the canes, while others will be fully clothed. Any of this series will make a handsome specimen for the lath house and, by using it as a background plant, no one will notice whether the stems seem rather bare.
Plant Height: Tall