Begonia 'Benitochiba' (Begonia 'Benitochiba')

Botanical name

Begonia 'Benitochiba'

Other names

Begonia 'Benitochiba', Rex begonia 'Benitochiba'

Genus

Begonia Begonia

Variety or Cultivar

'Benitochiba' _ 'Benitochiba' is a compact, tender, mound-forming, evergreen perennial, often grown as an indoor plant, bearing palmately lobed, silvery-grey leaves with dark green veins, flushed pink when young, and salmon-pink flowers in late winter or early spring.

Native to

Garden origin

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Bushy, Compact, Cushion or Mound Forming

Awards

RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)

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Colour

Flower

Salmon in Spring; Salmon in Winter

Foliage

Flushed pink in Spring; Dark-green, Variegated, Silvery-grey in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Aphids , Caterpillars , Mealybugs , Tarsonemid mites , Thrips

Specific diseases

Powdery mildew

General care

Pruning

Overwinter indoors.

Propagation methods

Leaf cuttings, Stem tip cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Begonia 'Benitochiba' (Begonia 'Benitochiba') will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.75m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Greenhouse, Containers, Conservatory, Beds and borders, Hanging baskets

Cultivation

Grow in containers in loam-based compost or in the ground in fertile, well-drained, neutral to acid soil in full sun or partial shade. Water regularly in dry periods. Best if feed regularly. Prefers moderate humidity. Avoid waterlogged conditions.

Soil type

Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade

Aspect

South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3), Indoor heated (H1)

USDA zones

Zone 12, Zone 11, Zone 10

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Begonia 'Benitochiba' (Begonia 'Benitochiba')

Common pest name

GRSV

Scientific pest name

Groundnut ringspot virus

Type

Virus or Viroid

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Virus affecting begonia; salad and other crops. First European outbreak detected in Finland in 2015.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Begonia 'Benitochiba' (Begonia 'Benitochiba')

Common pest name

Asain cotton leafworm; Cluster caterpillar; Fall armyworm; Rice cutworm; Taro caterpiller; Tobacco budworm; Tobacco caterpillar; Tobacco cutworm; Tobacco leaf caterpillar

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera litura

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Begonia 'Benitochiba' (Begonia 'Benitochiba')

Common pest name

Nematode; common spiral; Spiral nematode; Steiners spiral nematode

Scientific pest name

Helicotylenchus dihystera

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Nematode pest unlikely to be very damaging in its own right; but used as a an indicator species to assess compliance of soil requirements of imported plants to be kept under review in light of EFSA evaluation of soil requirements.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/