11 Best Wax Begonia Companion Plants

Wax begonias are kind flowering plants that don’t need much sunlight and can, in fact, get sunburned if they’re overexposed to it. While you can plant them solo, even in a small flower pot, they grow very well with other plants.

However, not just any plant can be paired with another species – there are factors to consider.

Below, you’ll find 11 best wax begonia companion plants, some of which can be used to protect your begonias from the sun, while others have very similar needs and they’re easy to grow together.

Let’s get started.

1. Petunias

Petunias grow very well with begonias because they have very similar growing requirements. You can freely plant them in the same container.

Just like wax begonias, they like light, but too much sunlight will burn them. If you live in a cooler area, it’s okay to leave them out in the sun, but you should put them in the shade if the temperatures are high.

Their watering requirements are also similar – petunias like to be watered frequently and don’t like dry soil, but they don’t like to sit in soggy soil either. Both petunias and wax begonias require fertile, well-draining soil to succeed.

You can find petunias in every color except for the color blue, and because of the rich and full bloom, they look very nice when paired with wax begonias.

2. Coleus

Coleus aren’t flowering plants, but perennial shrubs, and although they don’t have any flowers, they’re great wax begonia companion plants because of the vibrant color of their leaves!

Their leaves come in many colors (depending on the variant), while there are also dwarf coleus variants you might be interested in. Normal coleus shrubs can grow to massive sizes and draw attention from your wax begonias.

Some cultivars enjoy partly shaded areas, but there are varieties that thrive in full sun, so they can provide some protection for your begonias.

Their water requirements are the same as those of the wax begonia, so they can ideally share the same space!

3. Yellow Corydalis

This flowering plant also prefers shady areas, and it doesn’t like to sit in soggy soil, making it an ideal wax begonia partner plant.

They’re a great addition to the garden not only because of their beautiful flowers, but because of their incredibly long bloom period.

Yellow corydalis flowers start popping up in the spring and they can last until the first frost, definitely outlasting your wax begonias.

These plants are often used as border plants next to sidewalks and pathways – you can use them to encircle your begonias near the garden’s edge.

4. Hostas

Hostas, native to Asia, can grow very well in the shade. That is kind of their main selling point when it comes to enclosed gardens, but also when we’re talking about the best wax begonia companion plants.

Just like wax begonias, they need very little sunlight every day, and they like consistently wet, but not soggy soil. They don’t like to be dried out, though, so you can’t underwater them either.

Size is the most important thing to keep in mind when you’re planting hostas. Just like coleus plants, they’re grown for their beautiful and extensive foliage, not their flowers.

They can reach great sizes, so it’s important to plan accordingly and think about buying a dwarf variety – they can grow up to 50 inches in height and 60 inches in width, and you don’t want them to take up too much space in your garden.

5. Coneflowers

There’s a major difference between coneflowers and wax begonias – coneflowers like sunlight. They need at least six hours of sunlight a day to successfully bloom.

You can use this to your advantage, though, and plant them in a spot where they’ll cast a shadow over the begonias.

Given that a cluster of coneflowers can grow up to 5 feet, while wax begonias only grow up to about 15-20 inches, they may be the perfect wax begonia companion plants when it comes to sun protection.

Their watering needs are identical, and their beautiful daisy-like flowers complement wax begonias well. Purple coneflowers are possibly the most popular variety of this flower and they’re definitely worth looking into.

6. Impatiens

Impatiens plants are one of the few plant species that have a great bloom in the shade. Unless you live in a particularly cold area, you can keep them in complete shade with no direct sunlight and they’ll still bloom every summer.

This makes the impatiens a great companion plant for the wax begonia. They also like to be watered regularly, and they don’t like heat as they’re prone to dehydration and sunburn.

7. Bee Balm

The bee balm needs at least six hours of sunlight a day to fully develop its flowers, and because of its size, it can be used as sun protection for wax begonias. You can even combine bee balm and coneflowers to protect your wax begonias.

They also like consistently wet soil, maybe a bit more so than wax begonias, but they don’t need soggy soil, so you should be fine so long as you water them often.

Bee balm offers a somewhat unique look with its pointy flower petals, and as the name suggests, it is a major bee attractant (while simultaneously being a pest repellent).

8. Persian Shields

Also known as the royal purple plant, the Persian shield is a flowering plant native to Myanmar. It’s a large shrub, capable of growing up to 3 feet in width and height, and just like wax begonia, it prefers the shade.

If it’s grown in a particularly cool climate, it can be planted in full sun, but it’d be best to keep it in a partially shady area to prevent the leaf color from washing out.

Their water dependence is the same as the wax begonias’ – keeping the soil wet, but not soggy is more than enough for them. If you dehydrate them, the leaves will lose a little bit of color.

If you’re growing it in a particularly warm area, it will need more water than it usually would.

Leaf edges are green, while the center of the leaves is usually pink or purple – this unique combination of colors will make your garden shine.

9. Torenias

Torenias, more commonly known as the wishbone flower, are plants with beautiful flowers that will complement the wax begonia well. You can choose from several colors (depending on the variety), with the most popular one being a white and purple mix.

Similar to wax begonias, torenias like the shade and they should only get indirect light (or direct sunlight in the morning, and then shade for the rest of the day).

They’re not particularly prone to root rot, but it can occur if they’re kept in soggy soil, and they shouldn’t receive any more watering than begonias.

10. Hyacinths

Hyacinths are classic southern plants that come in a variety of colors and they can add some diversity to your garden. A problem you might come up against are their sunlight needs.

Unlike wax begonias, hyacinths need plenty of sunlight to bloom fully, but they don’t like to spend the entire day in the sun.

If you plant hyacinths and begonias next to a west-facing wall, you can orient them in such a way that the hyacinths protect begonias from sunlight in the morning.

11. Blanket Flowers

Blanket flowers are similar to coneflowers in a way – they have a large center and large flower petals that can’t be missed.

They also grow very tall, so you can use them to give your begonias some protection from the sun, making them great wax begonia companion plants.

They like to spend as much time as possible in the sun, and they don’t need much water. Blanket flowers can tolerate drought, so you only have to water them if the temperatures are very high and you’re not getting any rain.

The Best Partner Plants For Wax Begonias

There’s no single plant that’s the perfect partner for wax begonias. That’s precisely the beauty of gardens – you can mix a few different things to find what works best.

The bushes and shrubs on this list are great at providing shade and protecting your plant, while the flowering plants look very nice next to begonias and their colors complement one another well.

Either way, whether you’re planting in a container or in the garden, choose some of these plants to surround your begonias with and start gardening!