Cold hardiness

Future

2050

2100

These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Published baseline for this location from 1991-2020.

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Won't grow here

2050

Zone 7a

Plotwright

Projected zone for this same location in 2050 (2041-2070) using SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry).

Won't grow here

In plain terms: This location is in Zone 6b today. Its hardiness profile is cold winters, and coldest nights are typically around -3°F. By 2050, the projected hardiness zone is Zone 7a based on SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry). That is a +0.5-zone shift from Zone 6b to Zone 7a by 2050.

✕

Out of range today and still out of range in 2050.

Heat tolerance

Future

2050

2100

Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.

Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 17 ecoregions — 11 climate-resilient through 2070 · 6 newly possible by 2070. Best matches first.

Atlantic coastal pine barrens

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California coastal sage and chaparral

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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

Eastern Australian temperate forests

New Zealand North Island temperate forests

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Northern Pacific Alaskan coastal forests

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What it needs

Conditions

Light

Full sun / Part sun / Part shade

Water

Moderate water

Spacing

10"

Habit

Compact mounding tender perennial grown as a warm-season bedding annual

Care tips

•

Plant out only after the last frost and warm soil; wax begonias are frost-tender and stall in cold ground.

•

In hot-summer climates give sun-dappled part shade and mulch; reserve full sun for bronze-leaved selections.

•

Space 8-12 inches for air circulation to head off powdery mildew, botrytis, and stem rot in humid weather.

Lifecycle

Planting

Grow in average to moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade; in hot-summer climates it prefers sun-dappled part shade and a good mulch. Set transplants out only after the last frost and once soil has warmed. Space plants 8 inches apart for dwarfs and 12 inches for taller selections to promote good air circulation and reduce fungal disease. (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder.)

Transplanting

Usually grown from nursery starts rather than divided; move container plants out after frost danger passes and water in well. Plants can be lifted and potted to overwinter indoors as houseplants or stock for cuttings.

Early growth

Keep moisture consistent through the growing season while roots establish; despite drought tolerance from the waxy leaves, even moisture produces the best flowering. Bronze-leaved varieties tolerate more full sun than green-leaved ones.

Maturity

Mature plants form a 6-12 inch mound that blooms reliably from June to frost. In USDA Zones 10-11 it persists as a tender perennial; elsewhere it is killed by frost and replanted each year.

Propagation

Start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, purchase starter plants, or take cuttings from overwintered plants. (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder.)

Pollination

Pollination not applicable

Wax begonias are monoecious with separate male and female flowers on the same plant and set seed readily; they are grown as warm-season bedding annuals for foliage and continuous color rather than for fruit or a pollination crop, so no pollination partner or arrangement is required. Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder does not list specific pollinator attraction for this group.

For people

Edibility undocumented

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder profiles the Semperflorens Group purely as an ornamental bedding plant and does not address edibility or toxicity. While some begonia flowers and leaves are reported elsewhere as edible in small amounts (they contain oxalic acid), the species pages cited here make no edibility claim, so Plotwright records this as unknown rather than asserting either way.

Native range

AHS heat range

4-12

Climate notes

•

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists the Begonia Semperflorens Cultorum Group as a tender perennial winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-11, grown as an annual in colder climates such as St. Louis, in full sun to part shade with medium water.

•

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder notes it is grown for tolerance of hot and humid summers: the thick, waxy leaves minimize water loss and let plants tolerate periods of drought, though consistent moisture gives the best performance.

•

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists tolerance of rabbit, dry soil, and black walnut, and flags susceptibility to powdery mildew, botrytis, and stem rot in humid conditions with poor air circulation — the basis for the recommended plant spacing.

In the designer

Growth over time

4-7" tall · 4-7" spread

Transplanted starts fill in and begin blooming within weeks of warm-soil planting.

Design roles: Border · Filler · Container

Seasonal interest

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Filled = the plant has seasonal interest · ▾ now = your current season

Wax begonia

At a glance

Why it matters

Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

For people

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Seasonal interest

Sources & citations