How to Grow Begonia 'Creamsicle'
Begonia 'Creamsicle'
Begonia × wattii 'Creamsicle'
flowerBegonia 'Creamsicle' is a stunning hybrid begonia featuring peachy-orange flowers with cream-colored edges that resemble the popular frozen treat. This tender perennial is prized as a houseplant and summer bedding plant for its continuous blooming and attractive foliage. It grows as a compact, mounding plant ideal for containers, hanging baskets, and mixed borders.
When should you plant Begonia 'Creamsicle' in your zone?
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Example Begonia 'Creamsicle' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Begonia 'Creamsicle'
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Begonia 'Creamsicle' blooms
Around Jun 1≈ 45 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Begonia 'Creamsicle' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 10b-11 year-round; grow as an annual or bring indoors in zones 3-10a
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Get my Begonia 'Creamsicle' timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling/Young Plant
2-4 weeksSmall plantlets with tender green foliage and delicate root systems
Maintain high humidity (60-80%), provide bright indirect light, keep soil evenly moist, use gentle handling to avoid stem breakage
Vegetative Growth
3-6 weeksPlant develops multiple stems, deeper green foliage, compact mounding habit becoming established
Pinch back stem tips to encourage bushiness, ensure good air circulation, maintain consistent watering schedule, apply balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks
Early Flowering
1-2 weeksFirst flower buds appear at stem terminals, opening into distinctive peachy-orange flowers with cream edges
Maintain bright light to support continuous bloom, switch to balanced or slightly higher phosphorus fertilizer, ensure consistent moisture and humidity
Peak Flowering
2-3 months (can extend into fall/winter indoors)Plant covered in abundant peachy-orange blooms with cream-colored petal edges, full, well-rounded form
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote continuous blooming, maintain warm temperatures (65-75°F), keep humidity moderate (50-60%), fertilize biweekly, monitor for pests
Dormancy/Rest
2-4 months (winter months in cold climates)In cooler months or when daylight decreases, flowering slows, growth becomes minimal
Reduce watering frequency, reduce fertilizer applications to monthly, maintain cooler temperatures (60-65°F), provide ample bright light, trim leggy growth in early spring
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, spray with neem oil or sulfur fungicide if needed, remove affected foliage
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Ensure excellent drainage, allow soil surface to dry between waterings, reduce watering frequency, remove infected plants
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Increase humidity misting (but avoid leaf wetting), spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, improve air circulation
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Isolate affected plant, spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, manually remove with rubbing alcohol on cotton swab
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap, ensure good air circulation, reduce plant stress through proper care
Uses
Edible flowers
CulinaryBegonia flowers are completely edible and add a tart, slightly bitter flavor with ornamental peachy-cream coloring to salads, desserts, and beverages. [source]
Houseplant and indoor decoration
HouseholdExcellent year-round indoor plant in bright indirect light, providing continuous color and elegance to living spaces, windowsills, and shelf displays. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeDelicate flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, making it a valuable plant for supporting pollinators in gardens and containers. [source]
Cut flowers and arrangements
CraftTender stems with clusters of peachy-orange blooms work beautifully in fresh floral arrangements, though they require gentle handling and frequent water changes. [source]
Traditional herbal use
MedicinalBegonia species have been used traditionally in various herbal preparations for their mild anti-inflammatory properties, though modern scientific evidence remains limited. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Begonias are ornamental flowers; deadhead (remove spent blooms) regularly at the base of the flower stem to encourage continuous flowering. In zones 3-10a, harvest entire plants in fall before frost and bring indoors, or take cuttings for propagation. Blooming continues year-round indoors with proper light and care.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Begonia 'Creamsicle' is named for its striking resemblance to the classic orange-and-cream frozen treat, making it instantly recognizable and appealing to gardeners and plant collectors.
- 🌱 Begonias are one of the largest plant families, with over 2,000 species native primarily to tropical rainforests, mountains, and moist woodlands of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
- 🌱 Unlike most flowering plants, begonias have asymmetrical leaves (unequal sides), which is a distinctive botanical feature that adds to their ornamental appeal and makes them easily recognizable.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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