Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset' (Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset')

Botanical name

Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset'

Other names

Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset', Begonia boliviensis 'Santa Cruz Sunset'

Genus

Begonia Begonia

Variety or Cultivar

'Santa Cruz Sunset' _ 'Santa Cruz Sunset' is a bushy, mound-forming to trailing, tender, evergreen perennial, often grown as an annual, with long, narrow, toothed, triangular, dark green leaves and pendent, tubular, bright orange-red flowers in summer and autumn.

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Cushion or Mound Forming, Bushy, Trailing

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Colour

Flower

Orange-red in Summer; Orange-red in Autumn

Foliage

Dark-green 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 or discard at the end of the growing season.

Propagation

Sow seed on moist compost at 21-23C with 95% humidity. Requires long light days once germinated.

Propagation methods

Leaf cuttings, Seed, Stem tip cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset' (Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset') will reach a height of 0.4m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 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. Tolerates heat and moderate drought. Avoid waterlogged conditions.

Soil type

Clay, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Aspect

South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered

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

Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 11, Zone 10

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset' (Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset')

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 #2

Plant name

Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset' (Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset')

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 #3

Plant name

Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset' (Begonia 'Santa Cruz Sunset')

Common pest name

Necrotic spot

Scientific pest name

Impatiens necrotic spot virus

Type

Virus or Viroid

Current status in UK

Present (Widespread)

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

2

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

3

General biosecurity comments

Pest of mainly ornamentals and vegetables; present in the UK; and covered by the EU listing of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. To be kept under consideration in light of a review of the EU listing.

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/