Monty Don and the great begonia brouhaha
YOU don’t need a grain of green in your fingers to grow a begonia.
The beauty is they’ll flourish in sun or shade with the minimum of maintenance.
They’ll have your hanging baskets and containers brimming with colour quicker than it takes to fill up a watering can – and above all, they bloom for ages.
But none of that has stopped Monty Don causing a storm with a stinging attack on the patio favourite – describing them as ‘ repulsively ugly’. The BBC Gardeners’ World presenter’s opinion is valued by millions, which will explain why begonia sales bosses now have their secateurs out for him.
They described his comments as ‘ out of touch’ while other experts leapt to the flower’s defence. Don, who is also the Daily Mail’s Weekend gardening columnist, made his controversial remarks during a recent Chelsea Flower Show broadcast.
Speaking in a section about plants people love to hate, he said: ‘I hate a plant because it is repulsively ugly and that’s the begonia.’ When challenged by co-presenter Joe Swift, he added: ‘Don’t tell me that anybody likes begonias.’
It’s not the first time he has had a go at begonias, which also make popular houseplants because of their attractive foliage. He once said: ‘If begonias were a song, they would be the kind of maudlin croon performed by a “family entertainer” in a toupee.’
However Robert Bryce, the secretary of the National Begonia Society, accused Don, 60, of being out of touch. He said: ‘He is in the minority because begonias are selling in larger numbers than they ever have done. If the British public did not like begonias then they would have died out 100 years ago.’
Begonias have enjoyed a boom in sales following the downfall of another hanging basket staple, the busy Lizzie, which has been devastated by a mildew disease.
Paul Hansord, horticultural director at seed firm Thompson and Morgan, said while some may still regard begonias as too bright and loud, the range of modern day blooms are something very different.
He said: ‘I was amazed to hear the comment from Monty Don, I think that he has lost touch with the true gardening public.
‘Begonias are our and many other companies top selling bedding plant. Sales grow year on year and that is because of their outstanding performance whatever the weather. Minimum maintenance is required and they will grow well in sun or shade.’
Meanwhile, Nigel Colborn, former presenter of Gardeners’ World, said begonias were an ‘example of an absolutely beautiful plant genus’.
He added: ‘I think to write off a whole group is a bit sweeping.
‘The ones that have been bred in very delicate shades of peach and pink are beautiful.
‘They’re pretty popular in public planting. I know Monty’s not a great fan of bedding plants but when it’s done well it does look rather lovely.
‘People are beginning to take heed of the great need for us to produce pollinating plants for bees. It’s not just a fashion – it’s a desperate need. We depend on pollinators for much of our food. I’d encourage people to try begonias.’
ITV gardener Katie Rushworth, who hosts Love Your Garden, gave the begonia similar support. ‘If a plant is tough, reliable and flowers over a long period it’s a winner in my book,’ she said. ‘Anything to encourage novice gardeners and a greener Britain.’