Arriving in April 1986 as 30 cm cuttings, the town of Rochefort’s begonia collection now comprises more than 1,500 botanical begonias and hybrids (500 botanical and 1,000 hybrids).
Starting with barely more than 200 begonias, it has grown steadily through donations, purchases and exchanges to become one of the leading collections in the world. During this remarkable growth, in November 1988 the collection moved into a greenhouse large and spacious enough to let the plants develop freely.
The figure of 1,500 begonias may seem impressive if you only know three or four traditional forms of begonia.
In fact, the genus Begonia holds a record, with 2,200 botanical begonias (species, subspecies, forms and varieties) and nearly 13,000 cultivars existing or having existed, making it one of the richest genera in the plant kingdom. Native to tropical America, Southeast Asia or West Africa, begonias have been grown as ornamental plants since the 19th century. Yet they have many other uses in their countries of origin.
Showing their diversity, revealing their mysteries and playing on their rarity, this collection is a showcase of tropical ecology, presented by its keepers.
These plants are conserved, maintained, grown, propagated and tested in a 1,000 m² Conservatory Greenhouse, open to the public since 1989.
Over 20 years, this botanical greenhouse-garden has been extended and has had several interior improvements, but above all it is constantly rearranged to show you the largest plants and the most spectacular blooms.
Greeted by the inflorescences of the cane-like begonias (‘Orange Rubra’, ‘Isabella’, ‘Lenore Olivier’ or ‘Jim Wyrtzen’), you soon discover the African epiphytes (hanging baskets of Begonia molleri, polygonoides or furfuracea more than 3 metres long) or the foliage of vigorous hybrids such as ‘Paul Hernandez’ or ‘Benitochiba’.
Informations pratiques
1, rue Charles Plumier
17 300 ROCHEFORT
Tel.: +33 (0)5 46 82 40 30
email : conservatoire.begonia@ville-rochefort.fr
website: www.begonia.rochefort.fr
Guided tours only (25 people maximum).
– February / March / April and October / November: Tuesday to Friday, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm
– May, June, July, August, September: Tuesday to Friday, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm
Groups: mornings by appointment (please enquire in advance)
Closed: Saturday, Sunday, Monday and public holidays, and in December and January
Tarif plein : 6,00 €
Reduced rate: €5.00 (12–18 years)
Under 12: Free
