BEGONIA

The fashionability of plants is often, and I hope will always remain, a contentious issue. Many gardeners firmly assert their disregard for plant trends, but fashions are a barometer of prevalence and evolution; without new and divided opinions a subject stagnates. Begonias – particularly foliage begonias – are one such disputed plant, joining dahlias, chrysanthemums and carnations in their rise, fall and return to popularity. Begonias are now very much back in fashion.

To understand why begonias experienced such a swing in favour it is best contextualising them at the junction between a warming climate and an increasing British horticultural interest in tropical foliage. When the late Christopher Lloyd ripped out Great Dixter’sand tall, glittery . ‘Little Brother Montgomery’. These plants add punch to a scheme, yet do so by their leaves alone.