Cultivar
B. ‘Ensign’
Photos
1 photo
Identity
- Genus
- Begonia
- Name
- B. ‘Ensign’
- Originator
- James Veitch and Sons
- Date of Origin
- 1885
- Place
- Chelsea
- Country
- England, UK
- Region
- Europe
- Plant Type
- Hiemalis
- Female Parent
- B. socotrana
- Male Parent
- B. erecta
- Publication Reference
- C
- Article References
- The Garden, v. 65, (1904); The Gardeners' Chronicle, ser. 3, v. 67, 1920
Plant
- Description
- The Garden, v. 65, (1904) VEITCH'S WINTER – FLOWERING BEGONIAS. Among plants introduced of recent years, probably none have proved more valuable than the winter flowering Begonias raised by Messrs. James Veitch and Sons, Limited, of Chelsea. They have undoubtedly been a great boon to many gardeners, both professional and amateur, who value either a supply of cut flowers during the winter months, or who take delight in a greenhouse or conservatory made bright by something other than Chrysanthemums. The new hybrid winter-flowering Begonias are, therefore, a most opportune as well as a valuable introduction, and none who know their value will care to be without them. We lately paid a visit to the Feltham nurseries or Messrs. James Veitch and Sons, Limited, and there we found this new race of Begonias in splendid flower, several houses are filled with them, and they were a blaze of color. Visitors to the Drill Hall shows of the Royal Horticultural Society have had plenty of opportunity of seeing these Begonias, for Messrs. Veitch have made some brilliant displays with them during the late autumn and winter months. To Mr. John Heal, who is a clever and practical hybridist, is due the inception of this race of Begonias, by crossing B. socotrana with the tuberous Begonias. B. socotrana is in itself a valuable and handsome winter-flowering Begonia, but its progeny has been much improved in the important considerations of floriferousness and compact habit. Among the best of these Begonias are: Ensign, which grows about 2 feet high, and produces branching heads of semi-double rosy carmine flowers upon stout stalks. The flowers show well above the foliage, and render the plant one of striking appearance. ; 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
Ancestry tree
Descendants
No recorded descendants.
Culture
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