Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Begonia 'Picotee Lace Pink' (Begonia × tuberhybrida 'Picotee Lace Pink')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called picotee lace pink begonia, picotee tuberous begonia.

More about begonia 'picotee lace pink'

About Begonia 'Picotee Lace Pink'

Begonia × tuberhybrida 'Picotee Lace Pink' · also called picotee lace pink begonia, picotee tuberous begonia · flowering

Begonia 'Picotee Lace Pink' is a tuberous begonia with large, double, ruffled white-to-cream flowers finely edged in rose-pink, the classic picotee look. Grown as a half-hardy annual or lifted tuber, it flowers all summer in partial shade in moist, free-draining soil. Frost-tender, it is stored as a dry dormant tuber over winter.

Cold limit: USDA 9-11 outdoors; grown as an annual or lifted tuber in cooler zones · RHS H2 (frost-tender; lift and store tubers over winter) (13-24°C (frost-tender))

Watch for — Tuber rot: Overwet compost or damp winter storage rots the tuber. Use free-draining compost and store dried tubers cool, dry and frost-free.

What begonia 'picotee lace pink''s hardiness rating actually means

Hardiness works differently for begonia 'picotee lace pink': it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". Its RHS rating of H2 means: Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot. On the US scale that maps to USDA 9-11 outdoors; grown as an annual or lifted tuber in cooler zones — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

Concretely, for begonia 'picotee lace pink' as it gets too cold:

Light frost (around 0 to −2 °C) damages or kills tender summer crops outright; cold-hardy types take a few degrees of frost.
The plant does not "survive winter" — its life cycle simply ends, by design, when frost arrives or it finishes cropping.
A surprise late spring frost can also kill young transplants set out too early, before the season even starts.

Can begonia 'picotee lace pink' go outside or overwinter — and where?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost.
In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window.
Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when begonia 'picotee lace pink' can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H2 figure above.

Frost protection for borderline begonia 'picotee lace pink'

Begonia 'Picotee Lace Pink' is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks.
Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost.
Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.

Begonia 'Picotee Lace Pink' hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is begonia 'picotee lace pink' cold hardy?

Hardiness works differently for begonia 'picotee lace pink': it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". A seasonal crop, not a perennial. Begonia 'Picotee Lace Pink' is grown 9-11 outdoors; grown as an annual or lifted tuber in cooler zones; you sow after the last frost and harvest before the first one, then start again next year.

What is the minimum temperature begonia 'picotee lace pink' can survive?

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

What hardiness zone is begonia 'picotee lace pink'?

Begonia 'Picotee Lace Pink' is rated USDA 9-11 outdoors; grown as an annual or lifted tuber in cooler zones and RHS H2 — Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot.

Can begonia 'picotee lace pink' survive winter outside?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost. In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window. Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

How do I protect begonia 'picotee lace pink' from frost?

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks. Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost. Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.