Begonia Species Bank

There are more than 2,000 species in the genus Begonia. The Botanic Garden begonia collection contains over 800 species and over 800 hybrids, making it the largest recognized begonia collection in North America. In 2014 the FWBG became the first botanic garden in Texas to receive accreditation, initially by the North American Plant Collections Consortium. Then in 2015, we gained accreditation through the Plant Collections Network. We are currently the only accredited Begonia collection in the United States.

Begonias grow in the wild throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and often face loss of habitat from deforestation, logging, mining, and agriculture. Our Begonia Species Bank serves as insurance against their extinction. Additions are constantly being made to the collection through propagation and the acquisition of new species.