Begonia Shanzi

What would Grandmother say if she could see this super-tough, long-blooming, absolutely beautiful new Begonia? About as far from the finicky, fussy Begonias of yesteryear as a plant could be, Shanzi grows like crazy, blooms three seasons a year, and puts up with everything from sun to heat to humidity to -- believe it or not! -- drought! If you've never grown a Begonia before, Shanzi will give you a completely false impression of how easy and undemanding they are! If you're an old hand, Shanzi will make you want to toss the others aside and buy even more hanging baskets and windowboxes for these elegant shield-shaped leaves and dangling blooms!This plant offers large leaves of bright green with a burgundy reverse. As they mature, the leaves attain a silver sort of sheen, adding to their eye-catching beauty. They are held up and out on long stems on this very bushy, layered plant, so they look lush and full any time of year. Even if Shanzi never bloomed, it would be a sight worth seeing for the foliage!But it DOES bloom -- from spring through summer and into fall, actually! The blooms open white with a pink edge, held in little clusters on dangling stems. Much smaller than the leaves, the flowers froth around the plant cheerfully and in great numbers. As they mature, the pink edges disappear, and the snowy blooms stand out brilliantly against the silvery-green backdrop.Shanzi takes its name from a martial arts weapon known as the Iron Fan, and while we don't recommend this Begonia as a tool of self-defense, it is undoubtedly a fearless warrior in the plant world. While other Begonias melt in high heat, look damp and unhappy in humid spells, burn in full sun, and collapse in drought, Shanzi puts up all with all these stresses without dropping a leaf. Reaching about 20 inches high and a bit wider, it is a very rugged, dependable performer in garden or container, and makes a splendid houseplant. In fact, it is even one of those rare plants you can give to a non-gardening friend and then actually see alive after the first season! This product can be purchased in the following collection:Silver Garden Collection (82040)


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