Are begonias perennial or annual?

Begonias are frost-tender perennials. They grow and bloom year-round in USDA zones 9–11, but cannot survive freezing temperatures. In zones 3–8, they are treated as annuals — or the tubers are dug and stored over winter. Tuberous begonias are worth storing; wax begonias are gener

The answer depends on which begonia you're asking about and where you garden. With over 1,900 species in the genus Begonia, the range of cold hardiness and growth habits is wide. For the types most commonly sold at American garden centers — wax begonias (Begonia semperflorens-cultorum) and tuberous begonias (Begonia × tuberhybrida) — the practical answer in most of the US is annual.

Which begonia do you have?

The answer to "is it a perennial?" depends entirely on the type:

Wax begonias — Begonia semperflorens-cultorum

The most common bedding type. Compact plants, 6–12 inches tall, with glossy rounded leaves and small flowers in red, pink, or white. Sold in 6-packs at every garden center.

Per Missouri Botanical Garden, B. semperflorens is "perennial in frost-free areas" (zones 10–11 primarily). In zones 3–9, it is grown as an annual. It does not form a storage organ (tuber or rhizome) that can be dug and saved, making overwintering impractical for most gardeners.

The exception: Wax begonias can be dug and potted as container houseplants before frost and kept on a bright windowsill through winter. Per Clemson HGIC, "wax begonias may be dug before frost and grown as houseplants for the winter." This works, but the plants often become leggy without enough indoor light.

Tuberous begonias — Begonia × tuberhybrida

The showiest type — large flowers in orange, yellow, red, pink, and white, often with ruffled or camellia-like petals. Plants grow 12–18 inches tall from a tuber (a thickened underground stem).

Per University of Minnesota Extension, tuberous begonias are "tender perennials" that can be stored as dormant tubers through winter and replanted each spring. This is common practice and works well. The tubers are dug before frost, dried, stored in a cool dry location, and replanted after last frost the following year.

USDA hardiness: Per Missouri Botanical Garden, tuberous begonias are hardy in zones 9–11 in the ground. In zones 3–8, the tubers must be stored.

Hardy begonias — Begonia grandis

The exception to the frost-tender rule. Begonia grandis is hardy to zone 6 (some sources say zone 5 with protection). Per Missouri Botanical Garden, B. grandis is "the only cold-hardy begonia" and "may be grown in zones 6–9." It blooms in late summer with small pink flowers and dies back to the ground in fall, returning from the roots in spring.

If you want a begonia that reliably overwinters in zone 7, this is your plant.

USDA hardiness by type

How to overwinter tuberous begonia tubers

For gardeners in zones 3–8 who want to save tuberous begonias:

1. Before the first frost, stop watering to allow the foliage to begin yellowing. Per University of Minnesota Extension, "after the first light frost has blackened the foliage," cut the stems to within 2–3 inches of the tuber.
2. Dig the tubers carefully — they are fragile and break easily. Shake off loose soil; do not wash.
3. Dry for 1–2 weeks in a single layer in a cool, airy location out of direct sun.
4. Store in barely damp peat moss or vermiculite in a cardboard box or paper bag at 40–50°F. Per University of Minnesota Extension, storage temperatures above 60°F cause tubers to shrivel; below 35°F risks freezing.
5. Check monthly for rot (soft, mushy spots) or excessive drying (shriveled tubers). Remove any rotted material and dust cut surfaces with sulfur powder.
6. Replant in March–April indoors in pots, or directly outdoors after last frost when soil warms to 60°F.

Regional behavior

Zones 3–6 (Midwest, upper Midwest, northern New England): All begonias except B. grandis are killed by frost. Tuberous types are worth digging and storing. Wax begonias are pulled and discarded.

Zone 7 (Long Island, DC, Richmond, Nashville): Same treatment as zones 3–6 for most begonias. B. grandis is reliably hardy here and returns each spring. I don't grow tuberous begonias at home, but I've seen them stored successfully by Long Island gardeners who treat the tuber-saving step as part of their fall cleanup routine.

Zones 8–9 (Atlanta, Houston, Charlotte): Wax begonias may survive a mild winter as short-lived perennials, especially in sheltered spots. Tuberous types can be left in the ground with mulch in zone 9. Expect losses in zone 8 after hard freezes.

Zones 10–11 (Miami, Hawaii, South Texas): All common begonias grow as true perennials, blooming and growing year-round. B. semperflorens naturalizes easily in zone 10–11 and can become weedy in open garden beds.

Care summary for annual use

Planting: Set transplants out after last frost when night temperatures are reliably above 50°F. Tuberous begonias need warm soil — wait until soil temperatures exceed 60°F.

Sun: Wax begonias with green leaves handle full sun in zones 6–7; bronze-leaved varieties tolerate more heat and sun. Tuberous begonias prefer partial shade — per Clemson HGIC, they perform best with "morning sun and afternoon shade" in hot climates. In the Pacific Northwest where summers are cooler, tuberous begonias can handle more sun.

Water: Per Clemson HGIC, begonias "prefer a moist but well-drained soil." They are susceptible to root and stem rot in waterlogged soil. Allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings.

Fertilizer: Per NC State Extension, a balanced fertilizer applied every 2–3 weeks at half the label rate maintains steady flower production. Excess nitrogen pushes foliage at the expense of flowers.

Common mistakes

Frequently asked

Can wax begonias survive frost?

No. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, B. semperflorens is killed by frost. Even temperatures around 35–38°F cause visible damage to the tender stems and leaves. If frost is forecast, either bring container plants indoors or accept the loss.

Is it worth saving wax begonia tubers?

Wax begonias don't form significant tubers. They can be potted up and kept as houseplants over winter, but the effort is rarely worthwhile given how inexpensive transplants are in spring. Tuberous begonias (B. × tuberhybrida), which are named for their actual tubers, are worth saving — especially if you have a named cultivar.

What's the difference between a wax begonia and a tuberous begonia?

Wax begonias are compact bedding plants with glossy leaves and small flowers, grown from seed or cuttings. Tuberous begonias grow from a fleshy disk-like tuber and produce large, showy flowers. The two types have different light preferences (wax begonias tolerate more sun), different storage options (only tuberous begonias are worth digging), and different price points (tuberous types are more expensive at garden centers).

Is Begonia grandis the same as a regular begonia?

No. Begonia grandis (hardy begonia) is a separate species, native to Asia, that is genuinely cold-hardy to zone 6. It looks different from wax or tuberous begonias — smaller, single pink flowers on arching stems, with angel-wing-shaped leaves. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, it spreads by small bulbils that form in leaf axils. If you want a begonia that comes back every year in zone 6–7 without any digging, B. grandis is the one to plant.

Sources

1. Missouri Botanical Garden — Begonia semperflorens Plant Finder
2. University of Minnesota Extension — Tuberous Begonias
3. Clemson HGIC — Begonias
4. NC State Extension — Begonia semperflorens-cultorum