In Praise of Angel Wings

By Vickilane

Angel Wings Begonias, that is. 

When we moved from Tampa in 1975, my grandmother gave me starts from several of her plants (which had very likely come from Troy, Alabama, back in the Twenties), and these are the descendants. Almost fifty years later, they are still flourishing. Also known as Cane Begonias, these natives of Brazil's bamboo like stems can grow to ten feetThey winter in our little unheated green house and spend the summer in various pots on our various porches. They bloom profusely and grow and grow to the point that I usually cut back some of the more exuberant branches and, channeling my grandmother, stick then in a glass of water till they grow roots. Then I've got another pot of Angel Wings.


Their blooms are beautiful but, right now, it's the foliage that's spectacular, especially in the morning sun.

If there's anyone in my area who'd like to adopt a pot of Angel Wings, I'd be happy to share . . .