Begonia I’Conia series

* Common name: Begonia I’Conia series

* Botanical name: Begonia x hybrida I’Conia series

* What it is: Dummen Orange launched this line of annual begonias in 2015 that’s distinctive for dark foliage and large flowers in a range of colors.

   I’Conia begonias are stocky, compact, heavy-blooming plants that produce rose-like flowers all summer, some of which are double-petaled.

  They’ve been among the top-scoring begonias for years in trials at Penn State’s Trial Gardens in Lancaster County.

   They’re heat-tough and disease-resistant, but deer and rabbits may browse them if you have those lurking in your yard.

* Size: I’Conias grow about 12 to 16 inches tall with 14- to 16-inch spread. Some varieties are upright, and others are more mounded or semi-trailing.

* Where to use: Although they’ll work in good soil in the ground, I’Conia begonias are aimed mostly at container growth. They do best in part shade to mostly shaded sites.

* Care: Wait until after all danger of frost to plant. In a pot, use light-weight, high-quality potting mix and scatter timed-released fertilizer over the surface after planting. Then fertilize with a half-strength flower fertilizer every two weeks.

   Water pots daily when it doesn’t rain. Begonias like consistently moist soil.

   Frost will kill them in fall, but they can be grown inside if you want to salvage them longer.

* Great partner: I’Conia begonias are showy enough that three of them will fill even a large pot. If you like combos, color-coordinate your I’Conia of choice with a shorter or trailing annual that also prefers shade, such as impatiens, bacopa, or plectranthus.