November! and still going strong

Rex Begonia & double, pink Impatiens
© 2005 Darcy Daniels

I used Rex begonias as annuals in some of my plantings this year and have been very pleased with the results. They add so much color & drama for so little care. Once common in your grandmother's garden and long used as an indoor houseplant, they are enjoying a resurgence in popularity and consequently are available in range of colors.

Planted in May/June they have looked great all summer and will look good until first frost, at which point they will succumb (although they can be easily lifted and wintered over as houseplants). They have been a great way to add color to shady areas, preferring only indirect light. They come in a range of colors which are easy to harmonize with. In this case, with double pink impatiens which have, with regular feeding, also been blooming their hearts out all summer and do not require deadheading to keep looking good.

So moral of the story - annual foliage plants supplemented with simple flowering annuals can be an excellent means of creating a long lasting colorful scene without a lot of maintenance.