Begonia × hiemalis

Begonia × hiemalis, the elatior begonia or Reiger begonia, is an artificial hybrid species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae.[1] Its parents are Begonia socotrana and Begonia × tuberhybrida (itself a hybrid of multiple species).[2] Hybridization efforts began in 1881, with the first cultivar named 'John Heal'.[1] The 'Elatior' cultivar debuted in 1906, and beginning in 1950 Otto Rieger issued many new, disease-resistant cultivars, such that people began to call the species "elatior" or "Rieger" begonias.[1] In addition to their typically doubled flowers which come in every color except blue, they are valued for their tendency to bloom in fall and winter, and in fact nearly year-round.[1]