Surefire Red Begonia (Begonia x benariensis 'Surefire Red')
bah-GO-nyah ex benariensis 'Surefire Red'

Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) Upright, Mounding in the Begoniaceae Family
A vigorous, easy-care begonia with rich red blooms that thrives in sun or shade all summer long.

Surefire Red is an upright, mounding member of Proven Winners' Surefire series, valued for its unusual tolerance of both sun and shade. Glossy green foliage sets off a steady flush of rich red flowers from late spring until frost, with no deadheading needed. More vigorous than older wax begonias, it holds up well through summer heat and short dry spells.

Pros

  • Rich red flowers bloom non-stop from late spring to frost
  • Tolerates conditions from partial shade to full sun
  • More vigorous growth than older wax begonia varieties
  • No deadheading needed to keep blooming

Cons

  • Frost-tender annual in the Chicago area, replanted each year
  • Best with consistent moisture and regular feeding despite some drought tolerance
  • Larger habit needs some room to fill in
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Highlights

A dependable, vigorous begonia that unifies sunny and shady parts of the same planting, with rich red blooms all summer and no deadheading required.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 10a - 11b (Usually hardy to 30° F)
Tags Annual, Annual in Chicago, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Filler, Full Sun, Good for Mass Planting, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Potentially Toxic, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Late Spring To Fall
Flower Color Red
 

In The News

Photos of This with...

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 05/17
2024 : 02/08 - 05/18
2023 : 03/02 - 05/21

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!