Begonia Big Red with Dark Leaf (Begonia 'Big Red with Dark Leaf')
bah-GO-nyah 'Big Red with Dark Leaf'

Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) Upright, Mounding in the Begoniaceae Family
A large-flowered, vigorous wax begonia from the Big series, with bright red blooms set off by dark bronze foliage - equally at home in sun or shade.
Begonia 'Big Red with Dark Leaf' is part of the BIG series, bred by Benary for exceptional size and vigor in beds, borders, and containers. Bright red flowers stand out against rich bronze foliage on an upright, well-branched plant that blooms non-stop from spring through frost, tolerating both sun and shade.

Pros

  • Bold color contrast between red flowers and bronze foliage
  • Blooms continuously from spring to frost with no deadheading
  • Thrives in both sun and shade
  • Heat and drought tolerant once established

Cons

  • Not cold-hardy; grown as an annual here
  • Can be susceptible to botrytis blight in damp, crowded conditions
  • Larger habit needs more room than compact bedding begonias
Highlights Part of the Benary BIG series, bred for larger flowers, superior branching, and an upright habit that outperforms typical wax begonias in the landscape. The dark bronze foliage form gives extra contrast against its bright red flowers. Deer and rabbit resistant.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 15 - 24 inches tall. 15 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Tags Annual, Annual in Chicago, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Filler, Full Sun, Good for Mass Planting, Low Maintenance, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Tender Perennial, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Late Spring To Fall
Flower Color Red
 

In The News

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 08/09
2024 : 02/08 - 07/06
2023 : 03/02 - 07/22

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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.


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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!