Begonia, << bih GOHN yuh or bih GOH nee uh, >> is the name of a large group of tropical plants, many of which are common household or garden plants. Most begonias have shiny leaves. Some are valued for their brightly colored flowers, others for their colorful leaves.
There are three main types of begonias: (1) fibrous-rooted, (2) rhizomatous, and (3) tuberous. The fibrous-rooted type includes the wax begonia, a popular garden plant with pink, red, or white flowers and leaves that have a waxy appearance. Most rhizomatous begonias develop from a thick, rootlike underground stem called a rhizome. A popular rhizomatous begonia called a rex begonia is admired for its colorful leaves, which feature shades of red, white, or silver. Tuberous begonias grow from tubers, which are the swollen tips of underground stems. Tubers often have flowers that measure 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) across, and may be red, pink, orange, yellow, or white.
