Begonia 'Ramirez' (Ramirez Begonia) - An evergreen shrub-type begonia with a mounding habit to 3 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide with soft medium large dark green leaves that have a dark red backside. From spring through summer appear the white-with-pink tinged flowers that are fuzzy with red hairs.
Plant in bright shade and irrigate regularly to occasionally. Has proven hardy to at least 28 F. An attractive specimen shrub for a shady spot in the garden or grown in a large container.
This great old favorite hairy wide-leaved shrub type begonia was created by famed Santa Barbara plantsman Rudy Ziesenhenne in 1977 by crossing Begonia scharffiana with Begonia bradei. The late Gilbert Ramirez, a local Goleta Valley gardener told us that Rudy named this plant for his father, who was also a gardener. Ziesenhenne named his other plants after Santa Barbara area locations or people living in the area such as Begonia 'Lotusland', Begonia 'Cachuma', Begonia 'Yanonali', Begonia 'Lotusland' and he named Begonia 'Freddie' after his son.
This information about Begonia 'Ramirez' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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