Cocktail Vodka Begonia
Begonia semperflorens 'Cocktail Vodka'
flowerThe wax begonia is one of the most dependable bedding plants ever grown, and the Cocktail series is the toughest, most sun-tolerant kind. It makes a compact mound, six to twelve inches tall, of glossy, rounded, bronze-tinted leaves studded nonstop with clusters of small waxy flowers in red, pink, or white from spring until frost. The dark Cocktail foliage takes more sun than the green-leaved types, so this begonia thrives in either sun or shade - an unusual versatility that, combined with its heat tolerance and self-cleaning, no-deadhead habit, makes it a foolproof choice for beds, edging, and containers. It is also a reliable stand-in wherever impatiens downy mildew has been a problem.
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Sun
partial shade
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Water
Every 4 days
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Bloom
~90 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
tender perennial
Perennial in warm zones; grown as an annual where winters freeze
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Spacing
8-12 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Set the root ball level with the soil surface, after the last frost
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Soil pH
5.5-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, moist, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 11
When to Fertilize
Every few weeks through the growing season
Fertilizer
Balanced bloom fertilizer
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow wax begonias in part shade or, for the bronze-leaved Cocktail series, in full sun to part shade, in rich, moist, well-drained soil. They are remarkably adaptable to light once established, but want evenly moist (never soggy) humus-rich soil and good drainage. Set plants out after all danger of frost, since they are frost-tender, spacing them eight to twelve inches apart. They are self-cleaning and need no deadheading, blooming nonstop with little care, and tolerate heat well. Feed every few weeks for the fullest display. They are tender perennials grown as annuals, but a plant can be potted up and kept blooming indoors on a bright sill over winter.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Jan 21
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first bloom
Jul 28
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Super Elfin Impatiens — A shade-bed partner with flat flowers contrasting the begonia mounds - and the begonia carries on if impatiens mildew strikes
- Patriot Hosta — Bold variegated foliage behind the low begonias in a part-shade planting
- Sweet Alyssum — A fragrant carpeting filler that edges the bed and draws beneficial insects
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Can coat leaves in humid, crowded conditions - give airflow, water at the base, and avoid wetting the foliage late in the day
Botrytis rots flowers and leaves in cool damp spells - remove spent blooms and dead leaves and improve air circulation
White cottony clusters in leaf joints, mainly on plants brought indoors - dab with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or rinse off
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Wax begonias are grown for nonstop bedding and container color, not for cutting. The great virtue is that they are completely self-cleaning - they need no deadheading and simply bloom on their own from planting until frost. If a plant gets leggy late in summer, pinch or shear it back lightly and it rebounds bushy. To overwinter one, pot it up before frost and keep it in a bright window, where it will often keep flowering through the cold months.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
A purely ornamental bedding flower grown for its glossy foliage and nonstop, low-care color in sun or shade. Bees visit the open flowers, but it is grown above all as a foolproof, season-long source of bedding and container color.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Wax begonias are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with soluble oxalates most concentrated in the underground parts; chewing them can cause mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting. They are safe to handle and grow around - just keep pets from eating them.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.