Begonia Cotes de Castillon

Begonia 'Cotes de Castillon' is another little-known, but surprisingly winter hardy begonia that's excelled in our trials. This unknown species was brought to the US in 1995 from the Kuala Lumpur Orchid Garden by Henri Laporte. Being a wine grower, Henri named it after a favorite wine. In the garden, Begonia 'Cotes de Castillon' forms a 20" tall x 3' wide specimen, composed of large 10" x 7" leaves, held at the end of burgundy petioles. Each glossy silver leaf has a lovely wine/maroon back. The clumps are adorned with pink flowers, but these are mostly produced below the foliage, so we grow this for the amazing foliage. The key to outdoor survival in cold winter climates is keeping the soil dry in the winter months.