Is Wax Begonia deer resistant?
Begonia semperflorens
Browsed where deer pressure is high. Protect it.
Rating source: Rutgers NJAES E271
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Wax Begonia
Rated the same tier as impatiens, so not the safe shade substitute it is often claimed to be. Fine under light pressure only.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 6.5
- Drainage
- Well drained
- Water
- Moderate
- Fertility
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 8 to 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Low
Tolerances and uses
- Drought
- Low
- Salt
- Low
- Pollinators
- Low
- Containers
Deer-resistant alternatives to Wax Begonia
Same plant type, hardy in the same zones, but rated better on the Rutgers scale. If Wax Begonia keeps getting eaten, these go in the same spot.
Similar to Wax Begonia
Other annuals with the same deer rating.
- Annual GeraniumPelargonium x hortorumGrown as an annual, any zoneOccasionally damaged
- ColeusColeus sp.Grown as an annual, any zoneOccasionally damaged
- CosmosCosmos sp.Grown as an annual, any zoneOccasionally damaged
- DahliaDahlia sp.Grown as an annual, any zoneOccasionally damaged
- Garden BalsamImpatiens balsaminaGrown as an annual, any zoneOccasionally damaged
- Garden PetuniaPetunia sp.Grown as an annual, any zoneOccasionally damaged
Protecting Wax Begonia
Whether this survives comes down to local pressure, so it is worth knowing the options before it gets browsed rather than after.
- How tall a deer fence needs to beEight feet, and six is the most common expensive mistake in deer fencing.
- Repellent that actually worksThe egg-based recipe that reproduces the active ingredient in the commercial sprays that win university trials.
- Fencing a raised bedA deer jumps from ground level, so measure the barrier from the ground and not from the top of the bed.
- Check it is actually deerDeer tear and leave a ragged stub. A clean 45-degree cut is rabbits, and slug holes get blamed on deer constantly.
Where Wax Begonia grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Browse from here
Every list Wax Begonia belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Wax Begonia
- Is Wax Begonia deer resistant?
- Wax Begonia (Begonia semperflorens) is rated Occasionally Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Browsed where deer pressure is high. Protect it.
- What hardiness zones does Wax Begonia grow in?
- Wax Begonia is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 11. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Wax Begonia grow in shade?
- Yes. Wax Begonia tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Wax Begonia get?
- Mature height is roughly 6–12 in. Growth rate is fast.
- When does Wax Begonia bloom?
- Wax Begonia flowers from May–October.
- Is Wax Begonia toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Wax Begonia as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.