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Begonia 'Red Fred' - A large leaf rhizomatous begonia with rounded heart shaped 10-inch-wide leaves that are glossy maroon with green venation on the upper surface and red underneath. These leaves have a puffy texture between the leaf veins and are held on light green petioles covered with red scales. In late winter into spring appear small pink and red flowers that rise well above foliage in a tightly branched inflorescence.
Plant in bright shade or morning sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate regularly. Should prove hardy to short duration cold temperatures below 30°F but we have not tested it for this. A very nice container specimen for mild climate garden.
Begonia 'Red Fred' was a seedling of Begonia 'Freddie' raised by Brad Thompson at the late Mark Bartholomew's Hi-Mark Nursery. It was selected from the seedflat and named in 2005 by Mike Flaherty of Gazebo Plants in Santa Barbara. The parent plant Begonia 'Freddie' was created by legendary Begonia hybridizer Rudolph Ziesenhenne (1911-2005) at his Santa Barbara nursery by crossing Begonia manicata aureo-maculata with Begonia barkeri. More information on this plant on our listing for Begonia Freddie. Though Begonia 'Red Fred' has considerably redder foliage, it has smaller leaves, less showy flowers and is a little bit fussier than 'Freddie', so requires soil that drains very well.
The information about Begonia 'Red Fred' that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.
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