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Cultivar

B. ‘Erecta M. Hardy’

Identity

Genus
Begonia
Name
B. ‘Erecta M. Hardy’
Originator
Couturier
Date of Origin
1880
Place
France
Country
France
Region
Europe
Plant Type
Tuberous
Publication Reference
RH; WBHC-WW

Plant

Description
Revue horticole. Paris: Librairie Agricole de la Maison rustique 1829-1974. Anne 1883: Page 252-3 http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/196490 Messrs. Couturier and Robert, Horticulturists in Chatou, exhibited, in May of last year, in the Pavilion of the City of Paris, at the exhibition held by the National Societe and central horticulture of France, a lot of tuberous Begonias of a striking beauty and an unusual grandeur of flowers. Two of these plants especially attracted all eyes, in the basket placed in front of the main entrance. One of them bore the most brilliant scarlet-red flowers, the diameter of which was thirteen centimeters. Another, with a shade of the most beautiful tender rose, has a slightly smaller flower, but very well made, producing with the first, the most agreeable contrast. We have had these two magnificent varieties painted, to which MM. Couturier and Robert have given the names of M. Hardy and Mr. Ed. Andre. The variety bearing No. 1, M. Ed. Andre, is a vigorous plant, with strong stems, well erect, fleshy, green, with broad foliage, very oblique and profoundly dense, gay green, shining, which brings out the splendor of the great flowers, of the most beautiful vermilion. These flowers, widely open, are of a very good hold and the plant is of first order. They measure up to 14 centimeters in diameter. Variety No. 2, M. Hardy, is also vigorous, with a stocky, bushy habit, and a bright green foliage, as profoundly oblique. The regular flowers with large obtuse petals, are of a tender pink charming. The plant equates the merit of the preceding one, in another order of color. What progress has been made in the production of varieties of tuberous Begonias in ten years? Since the remarkable introduction of Begonia Pearcei, Boliviensis, Cinnabarina, and Octopetala, whose mixtures have given so many beautiful plants, our gardens and greenhouses have, in the hybridizations which they produce, a floral decoration which rivals with that of the Pelargoniums. We have come to the point that it will no longer be possible to give names to the new earnings, for they have reached this period, or, as for the Coleus, almost all the seedlings are beautiful when the seeds are chosen on subjects of different kinds, elite. We must only observe that it is the choice of these seed-holders which is now of the greatest importance. That is why it will always be good to distinguish nominally the off-line varieties by their good behavior, the perfection of form and the beautiful color of their flowers. Messrs. Couturier and Robert showed what they could do in this direction, and their new seedlings are full of seductive promises for the future. Ed. Andre

Lineage

Parents

No parentage recorded.

Descendants

No recorded descendants.

Culture

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