Plant in light to deep shade or morning sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate regularly. Hardy to short duration cold temperatures down to around 28°F. A great begonia for large spaces in the garden. This variety was introduced into cultivation by the legendary Begonia hybridizer Rudolph Ziesenhenne (1911-2005), who discovered the plant as a chance seedling in his greenhouse at his Santa Barbara nursery in the 1960s. The story goes that it went some time without a name until a National Geographic photographer asked Ziesenhenne about it. To honor Madame Ganna Walska and her wonderful Lotusland garden where many of his begonias had been planted, he named it Begonia 'Lotusland' in 1999. The pictures on this page taken in the fern garden at Ganna Walska Lotusland.

Ziesenhenne named his other plants after Santa Barbara area locations or people living in the area such as Begonia 'Lotusland', Begonia 'Cachuma', Begonia 'Yanonali' and named Begonia 'Freddie' after his son and named Begonia 'Ramirez' for a Santa Barbara gardener. 

The information about Begonia 'Lotusland' that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.

Please note that after 46 years in business, San Marcos Growers will be discontinuing nursery operations by the end of 2025 and the property will be developed for affordable housing.