How can you learn to grow your favourite plant, and discover the diversity of species and hybrids? By browsing the books that have been published on begonias, of course! On this page you will find a list of the reference books on the subject.
Most of these books are no longer in print, but they can be found second-hand on specialist sites such as abebooks or chapitre mais aussi amazon. Some books can also be borrowed from the association.
BÉGONIA : MONOGRAPHIE, MULTIPLICATION, CULTURE
Charles Chevalier, 413 pages, Liège 1938
An old book written by the curator of the Liège Botanical Garden in Belgium, and almost impossible to find today.
It is an interesting work for growing, as the author details old techniques, but it has significant gaps in nomenclature due to its age. A few black-and-white illustrations accompany the text.
LES BÉGONIAS
Laura Fronty, 95 pages, Rustica 1996
A small book, easy to find second-hand, covering the basics of growing begonias (propagation, repotting, diseases…). It also presents a few species and hybrids. It is the first book to buy when you are starting out.
LES BÉGONIAS : CULTURE ET MONOGRAPHIE
Adolphe Van Den Heede, 221 pages, Librairie agricole 1903
A small old book presenting the knowledge of its time and various classifications. It is a testimony to French horticulture at the beginning of the 20th century. A few black-and-white illustrations accompany the text.
FLORE DE MADAGASCAR ET DES COMORES – VOL. 144 BEGONIACEAE
Monique Keraudren-Aymonin, 123 pages, MNHN 1983
This work presents more than forty begonia species living in Madagascar. It is a synthesis of the knowledge of its time, by a botanist at the MNHN (French National Museum of Natural History). It is aimed at readers with a good knowledge of botany. It can be downloaded directly from the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
FLORE DU GABON – VOL.39 BEGONIACEAE
Sosef & Banak, 112 pages, Margraf Publishers 2009
This very technical work is intended for informed readers who want to know more about African begonias. It presents the various species living in Gabon, with many botanical illustrations and identification keys. It is a book rich in information and invaluable for knowledge of these Gabonese begonias, which must be protected. You can buy it directly from the publisher’s website.
BEGONIAS : THE COMPLETE REFERENCE BOOK
Mildred & Edward Thompson, 356 pages, Times Book 1981
The begonia lover’s bible! Written in English, but easy to read.
Despite its age, it remains interesting, as it covers every aspect of growing begonias. It presents many species and hybrids, with black-and-white illustrations and a few colour photos.
Relatively easy to find, it comes in one or three volumes depending on the edition, with an update in 1984.
In short, a must-have book for every begonia enthusiast’s library!
KNOW YOUR BEGONIAS
Jack Krempin, 119 pages, Krempin Books 1993
This book is a visual encyclopaedia of the begonia. It presents more than 500 species and hybrids in colour photographs. It also briefly covers growing and propagation in the first pages.
Despite many errors, this book is still worth leafing through when you are looking for the name of your begonias.
BEGONIAS : CULTIVATION, IDENTIFICATION AND NATURAL HISTORY
Mark C. Tebbitt, Timber Press 2005
This book, one of the most recent publications on the subject, is written by a specialist of the genus who is a botanist at the University of California.
Identification keys, detailed descriptions and rich illustrations make this book essential for learning more about begonias in their natural habitat. A reference! You can buy it directly from the publisher’s website.
BEGONIAS OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA
Ruth Kiew, 308 pages, National History Publications 2005
The most recent and certainly the most richly illustrated book, with many colour photos showing rare species in their natural habitat. The author, curator of the herbarium and library of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, describes in detail about fifty species from Peninsular Malaysia.
An essential book for improving your botanical knowledge and discovering colourful new species. It is available from the American Begonia Society website.
A GUIDE TO THE BEGONIAS OF BORNEO
Ruth Kiew, Julia Sang, Rimi Repin and Joffre Ali Ahmad, 293 pages, Natural History Publications 2015
This book, recently published by Ruth Kiew, describes more than 200 very little-known begonias. Superb photos of magnificent and astonishing plants. The only regret is the brevity of the text for each species, but this book is only a guide to the begonias of the Malaysian part of Borneo.
BEGONIACEAE EDITION 2
Jack Golding & Dieter Wasshausen, 2002
The reference for botanical nomenclature, this book lists all begonia species with a wealth of information (author, publication, section, geographical origin…). It also includes many herbarium plates. For informed readers. It is available from the American Begonia Society website.
GROWING BEGONIAS
Eric Catterall, 132 pages, Timber Press 1984
This book presents the various growing techniques as well as several begonia species and hybrids. Note the rather interesting chapter on growing media. A few black-and-white drawings and some colour photos illustrate the text.
BEGONIAS FOR AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS
Helen K. Krauss, 1947
This book is fairly old and general, but it complements the other books on the subject. It is interesting, however, for the “family trees” it gives for each group of begonias. A few black-and-white illustrations and photos.
ALL ABOUT BEGONIAS
Bernice Brilmayer, 1960
This general book covers all the basics of growing and of the different types of begonias. A few black-and-white illustrations accompany the text.
THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA
Brian Langdon, 1969
This book covers one particular category of begonias, dealing with every aspect of these plants: history, growing, propagation… with colour illustrations. It is written by a specialist from a famous family of English growers specialising in hybrid tuberous begonias.
BEGONIAS
Arakawa Hikoichi, 222 pages, Seibundo Shinkosha Publishing Co 1980
Books in Japanese, but richly illustrated with many colour photos. What is more, plant names are universal, so they can be a useful tool for identifying begonias. They also have the advantage of presenting hybrids raised in Japan.
BEGONIA IN COLORS
Murotani Yugi, 180 pages, Ienohikari Society 1983
Books in Japanese, but richly illustrated with many colour photos. What is more, plant names are universal, so they can be a useful tool for identifying begonias. They also have the advantage of presenting hybrids raised in Japan.
BEGONIA
Uemura Naoyuki, 132 pages, Green & Flowers Books 1984
Books in Japanese, but richly illustrated with many colour photos. What is more, plant names are universal, so they can be a useful tool for identifying begonias. They also have the advantage of presenting hybrids raised in Japan.
DICTIONNAIRE ILLUSTRÉ DE BOTANIQUE
Jouy Alain, 340 pages, Ulmer 2010
LA BOTANIQUE REDÉCOUVERTE
Raynal-Rocques Aline, 512 pages, Belin 1999
15000 PLANTES
Brickell Christopher & Mioulane Patrick, 1080 pages, Larousse 2008
ÊTRE PLANTE À L’OMBRE DES FORÊTS TROPICALES
Blanc Patrick, 428 pages, Nathan 2020
BOTANICA, L’ENCYCLOPÉDIE DE BOTANIQUE ET D’HORTICULTURE
1024 pages, Ullmann 2010
