Thought this might be of interest to those who are growing or might be interested in growing Tuberous Begonias, particularly in the UK.
It is taken from ?The Oxford Companion to the Garden? edited by Patrick Taylor, under the topic of ?annuals and bedding plants? sub-topic History, printed by Oxford University Press 2006:
?The dates of the introduction of many annuals and bedding plants into Britain have been lost in time, but some are very ancient . . . . . . A surprising early introduction is that of the begonia, which was brought from the Americas in the 17th century by the French priest-botanist Charles Plummer (1646-1706). It was a subject of much hybridization, and today well over 600 varieties are still available from British nurseries.?
The contributor for the book?s Editorial Team for the above is Tony Hender (who) has worked in England as a horticultural seedsmen through his working life, latterly specializing in breeding flower seeds. In 2000 he helped to establish Seedlynx, and independent wholesale supplier of flower seeds. From 1975 he has been a Royal Horticultural Society judge and has contributed to a number of books including the "RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants" (1996).
- Toby
