Many people think that begonias are easier to grow than other popular herbaceous ornamental plants because they can be grown from seed or leaf, stem, rhizome, or tuber cuttings (Figure 1). Begonia species and varieties are known for their imperfect, monoecious flowers (Figure 2 and 3). It is easy for the breeder to do self-fertilization and cross-fertilization when there are both male and female flowers on the same plant but not on the same flower.
Anyone in Florida who runs a nursery, works in landscaping, or wants to grow their own begonias should read this EDIS publication. This guide will go into detail on how to multiply begonias via pollination/fertilization. Go to A Beginner’s Guide to Begonias: Vegetative Propagation to learn more about how to grow begonias from stems and leaves. You can pollinate and feed your own begonias in two ways: the flower removal model and the brush method…. For more information on begonias in Florida, check out A Beginner’s Guide to Begonias: Classification and Diversity.
As a budding begonia enthusiast, I used to find identifying begonia seeds to be quite mystifying. The tiny, dust-like particles all looked indistinguishable to my untrained eye But with more experience nurturing these beautiful plants, I’ve become adept at distinguishing the intricate details of begonia seeds
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about deciphering what begonia seeds look like. From shape and size to color and texture, we’ll uncover all the telltale features that set begonia seeds apart. Arm yourself with knowledge – and a magnifying glass – as we explore the wonderful world of begonia seed identification!
Common Physical Characteristics of Begonia Seeds
While there are over 1,800 unique begonia species, the seeds share some typical physical traits:
Size
- Begonia seeds are quite small, often between 0.1 – 2 mm in length. That’s just a tiny fraction of an inch!
Shape
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The shape can vary but common forms are oval elliptical, or irregularly round.
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Some have a slightly curved or hooked tip on one end
Color
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Mature begonia seeds range from white to brown in color, with shades of cream, yellow, orange and red possible as well.
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Darker seeds tend to indicate maturity.
Texture
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Most have a smooth, glossy surface. However, some may have tiny ridges or bumps.
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A few species have fine hairs or hooks on the seed coat.
Notable Features
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Some seeds have a small wing-like structure to aid wind dispersal.
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The seed capsule or pod can also be distinctive on certain species.
Now that we’ve covered the general qualities of begonia seeds, let’s go through the identification process step-by-step.
How to Identify Begonia Seeds in 3 Steps
Follow this simple 3-step method to become a begonia seed expert:
Step 1: Examine Shape and Size
The first thing to assess is the overall form and dimensions of the seed.
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Use a magnifying glass or macro lens to get a close look.
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Compare the shape and proportions to reference photos of different begonia seeds.
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The size can offer hints too. For example, large seeds over 2 mm likely come from bigger-flowered species.
Step 2: Inspect Color and Texture
Next, take a look at the seed color and surface texture.
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This can vary greatly among begonia species.
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Texture-wise, determine if the seed coat is smooth or irregular.
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See if you can match the color/texture combo to a known species.
Step 3: Identify Special Features
Finally, look closely for any distinguishing characteristics:
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Check for wings, hooks, hairs or unique pods.
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Make note of any stripes, dots, or variegation too.
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These special traits can help pinpoint the exact species.
With practice, you’ll be able to fly through these three steps and accurately ID begonia seeds in no time.
Common Begonia Seed Identification Challenges
However, begonia seed identification does come with a few challenges:
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They’re extremely small – difficult to handle and examine.
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Many species have similar nondescript seeds.
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Variety within a species can occur.
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Immature seeds may lack definitive traits.
Still, don’t let those obstacles deter you! Here are some tips to overcome them:
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Use a quality magnifying glass and good lighting.
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Compare to multiple reference photos to spot minute differences.
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Focus on mature, dark-colored seeds when available.
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Identify seeds from parent plants whenever possible.
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Pay attention to subtle characteristics like seed shape and size.
With practice and patience, identifying begonia seeds gets much easier. Starting with common species helps build confidence too.
A Quick Guide to 5 Popular Begonia Seeds
To give you a leg up, let’s go through some of the most widely grown begonia species and their distinctive seeds:
Rex Begonia
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Oval, plump shape
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White to brown color
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Smooth surface
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0.5-1 mm long
Wax Begonia
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Tiny, oblong shape
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White color
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Some have fine hairs
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Under 0.5 mm long
Tuberous Begonia
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Oval or irregularly shaped
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Reddish-brown color
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Ridged or wrinkled texture
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0.5-1.5 mm long
Dragon Wing Begonia
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Kidney-shaped
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Yellow-brown color
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Winged capsule
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1-2 mm long
Rhizomatous Begonia
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Elliptical shape
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Cream to brown shades
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Smooth or lightly ridged
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1-1.5 mm long
With this quick guide imprinted, identifying common begonia seeds will be a breeze.
Storing Begonia Seeds Correctly
Once you’ve harvested ripe begonia seeds, proper storage is essential for viability:
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Let seeds fully mature and dry on the plant first.
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Place seeds in breathable containers like paper or mesh. Avoid plastic.
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Store containers in cool, dark places. Refrigeration prolongs viability.
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For long-term storage, add silica packs to the container to absorb moisture.
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Avoid freezing, high humidity and frequent temperature fluctuations.
Follow those tips, and your begonia seeds will remain alive and ready to plant for years to come!
Exciting Uses for Your Begonia Seeds
Once you’ve mastered begonia seed ID and storage, here are some fun ways to use your bounty:
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Start new begonia plants – grow an endless supply from seeds!
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Trade seeds with fellow begonia enthusiasts.
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Create unique hybrids and cultivars.
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Participate in begonia societies and competitions.
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Preserve rare, heirloom varieties by propagating them.
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Sell or give away extra seeds.
The possibilities are endless when you harness the remarkable power within those tiny begonia seeds!
Experience the Thrill of Begonia Seed Identification
From distinctive shapes and surface textures to winged pods and unusual colors, begonia seeds reveal a microcosm of diversity waiting to be discovered. So grab your magnifier, tap into that curiosity, and join me in exploring the endless wonders of begonia seeds!
Seed Production via Hand Pollination
Begoniascan be propagated through seeds. A single pod can produce hundreds of seeds, which makes it easy to make enough seed materials for propagation. To make seeds, plants need to pollinate themselves. Most begonias are self-compatible, which means that pollen from male flowers on one plant can successfully pollinate and fertilize female flowers on the same plant. In order to ensure self-pollination occurs, manual crossings are generally required for pollination.
Pollination is when pollen moves from the male parts of flowers (anthers) to the female parts (stigma) of the same or different flowers. This is the part of the reproduction process that needs help from people to get the traits that people want. The male and female reproductive organs of the Begonia plant are on different flowers, which makes it much less likely that the plant will pollinate itself without help (Figure 2 and 3). On the same plant, you can find both male and female flowers, and the plant can pollinate itself. Begonia plants naturally try to keep from pollinating themselves by either protandry, in which the male flowers open before the female flowers, or protogyny, in which the female flowers open before the males. For example, when clonal plants are planted at different times, the male flowers on one plant bloom at the same time as the female flowers on another plant, this is called self-pollination. Pollinators are what make this happen.
After female flowers are pollinated, fertilization occurs inside the ovary. Sperm from pollen and egg from an ovule join together to form a baby. This is called fertilization. Fertilization does not require human intervention because it occurs naturally in virtually every living organism on the planet. When the pollen grain hits the stigma, pollination is over. Fertilization starts when the pollen tube forms to follow the sperm cell down the style to the ovary, where the egg is. There are two methods to pollinate begonias, the flower removal method and the brush method. The following steps will detail how to successfully pollinate begonia flowers using both methods.
- Locate a mature male and female flower. If the flower is male, make sure the tepals are open wide and the anthers are a bright yellow color. Slowly shake the flower to see if any pollen falls on the petals (Figure 5). If so, the flower is mature. To find a female flower, look for one with an ovary with three wings and tepals that are fully open. Look at Figures 2 and 3 to see how male and female flowers are different.
- Precisely cut off the male flower from the plant with tongs. Be careful not to disturb the pollen (Figure 5).
3. Lightly brush the collection of anthers onto the stigmas of the female flower. Be careful not to brush too hard, because you may damage the female reproductive organs (Figure 6).
4. Make sure you keep good records by putting the male species, female species, and date of crossing on a tag. Fasten the tag around the female flower. Once pollination and fertilization are done, the tepals of female flowers tend to fall off the plant. This is why you need to make sure the tag is close to the female flower (see Figure 7).
5. Observe the flower every few days to see if pollination was successful. You will first see the tepals of the female flower start to wilt and separate from the receptacle if you are successful. A browning of the peduncle follows as the plant cuts off nutrients from the flower (Figure 9). Once the peduncle turns brown, the flower can be taken off by hand or left to turn brown and fall off on its own.
- First, locate a mature male and female flower.
- Slowly brush the anthers of the male flower with a soft-bristled brush until you see golden pollen grains on the end of the bristles. That way, you can see the pollen grains better if you use a dark-bristled brush.
- Move to the female flower and use the end brush to lightly brush the stigmas (Figure 8). Make sure to clean the brush in 70% rubbing alcohol before trying to make another cross to avoid cross-pollination that wasn’t planned.
4. If done properly, you will notice the pollen resting on the stigmas of the female flower. Make sure you keep good records by putting the male species, female species, and date of crossing on a tag. Fasten tag around the female flower.
5. Observe the female flower every few days to see if pollination was successful. You will first see that the tepals of the female flower start to wilt and separate from the receptacle if it works. A browning of the peduncle follows as the plant cuts off nutrients from the flower (Figure 9). Once the peduncle turns brown, the flower can be taken off by hand or left to turn brown and fall off on its own.
Problems with Sexual Propagation through Seeds
Begonia is highly heterozygous, unlike some annual inbred ornamentals with perfect flowers. This means that most begonia plants have a mixed genetic background. This means that even after self-pollination, the plants that grow from their seeds will not be exactly like the parents. Progeny seedlings will vary greatly and tend to differ from the parents. Another problem with sexual reproduction is that begonia seeds are very small (15–20 mg per 1000 seeds) (Figure 10). To put it another way, a gram of wax begonia (Begonia Semperflorens-cultorum) might have about 88,000 seeds and a gram of tuber begonia (B. × tuber hybrid). In addition, begonia seeds cannot be stored wellunless proper measuresare taken (Haba 2015). Attention should alsobegiven to the seed quality for different varieties. Some types of seeds may stay dormant for a long time, while other seeds may not grow well because of problems with their development.
Ginori, J. , A. Huo, Z. Deng, and S. Wilson. 2020. “A Beginner’s Guide to Begonias: Vegetative Propagation. ” EDIS 2021. In prep.
Ginori, J., A. Huo, and C. R. Warwick. 2020. A Beginner’s Guide to Begonias: Classification and Diversity. EDIS 2020 (1). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep581-2020
Haba, S. R. (2015). Conservation of Begonia Germplasm through Seeds: Characterization of Germination and Vigor in Different Species. Master’s Thesis, The Ohio State University.
Hartmann, H. T. , F. T. Davies, R. L. Geneve, and S. B. Wilson. 2018. Hartmann & Kester’s Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (Ninth Edition). Pearson.
Pounders, C. T., H. F. Sakhanokho, and L. M. Nyochembeng. 2015. “Begonia × semperflorens FB08-59 and FB08-163 Clonal Germplasm.” HortScience 50 (1): 145–146. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.50.1.145
Release Date:May 18, 2022
Part of A Beginners Guide to Begonias
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-EP619-2022
- Critical Issue: 1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises
This document is ENH1355, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date May 2022. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis. ifas. ufl. edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
Heqiang Huo is an assistant professor in the Environmental Horticulture Department at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center. Zhanao Deng is a professor in the Environmental Horticulture Department at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast REC. And Sandra Wilson is a professor in the Environmental Horticulture Department at UF/IFAS Extension in Gainesville, FL 32611. Julian Ginori is a graduate research assistant.