Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has reiterated his strong dislike for begonias, standing by controversial comments that once sparked significant backlash at the Chelsea Flower Show. The renowned horticulturist, known for his candid opinions, admits his stance on the flowering plants remains unchanged despite criticism from enthusiasts and experts alike.
Backlash and Bodyguard Jokes
Recalling the moment he publicly declared his hatred for begonias during a live television broadcast from the Chelsea Flower Show, Monty Don humorously noted he practically needed a bodyguard afterwards due to the intense reaction. Speaking on the Dig It podcast, the 70-year-old gardening expert described how his off-the-cuff remark made headlines across numerous newspapers, much to the delight of producers.
"The next day, live on TV, I heard myself saying, 'I really hate begonias.' Of course, the producer loved it - every paper [ran it], and I practically needed a bodyguard," he laughed during the podcast interview. "Then the next day they sent me to interview a begonia [expert], of course they did. I was just grovelling. I had to say, 'Not your begonias of course, your begonias are lovely.'"
Unconverted Despite Flood of Begonias
Monty Don revealed that following his controversial statement, he was flooded with begonias sent by members of the public attempting to change his mind. However, he maintains that he has not been converted, stating plainly: "And I still have to say, I'm not really converted." His criticism extends beyond personal taste to practical gardening concerns about plant suitability.
Context and Climate Concerns
The gardening expert explained that his dislike stems from what he perceives as a fundamental mismatch between begonias and British garden settings. "I don't like obviously tropical plants in a British setting," he admitted, emphasizing the importance of contextual planting. "When it gets really jungly and lured, when you take the flora of Papua New Guinea and transpose it to serpentine or even Longmeadow - for me, it doesn't work. I think context is really important."
Historical Controversy and Expert Response
This is not the first time Monty Don has courted controversy with his begonia opinions. In 2016, he described the plants as "repulsively ugly," drawing criticism from the secretary of the National Begonia Society. The society representative defended the popular flowering plants, telling Mail Online: "He is in the minority because begonias are selling in larger numbers than ever. If the British public didn’t like begonias, they would have died out 100 years ago."
Alternative Plant Recommendations
While remaining unconvinced about begonias, Monty Don offered praise for cosmos plants as a more suitable alternative for British gardeners. "Cosmos are really forgiving. I love cosmos and everybody should go with them because, by and large, they’re pretty trouble-free," he shared, providing practical planting advice for the current season.
He explained their cultivation requirements: "They are tender, so there’s no point in sowing them direct now unless you live somewhere there’s no more frost. Where I am, frost can still hit in April, so I’d sow them in a seed tray now - it works fine." Beyond cosmos, Monty champions traditional British garden favorites including roses, perennials, herbaceous borders, and pollinator-friendly wildflowers.
April Gardening Advice
In related gardening news, Monty Don has also shared his top recommendations for April garden tasks, highlighting lettuce as "one of the easiest of all plants" to grow this month. According to gardening experts at Bonnie Plants, lettuce matures rapidly, sometimes in as little as six weeks. In his monthly gardening blog, Monty noted that most lettuces take approximately "six to eight weeks to grow sufficiently large to eat" and can remain harvestable for an additional month if maintained in cool, well-watered conditions.
The ongoing begonia debate highlights how personal preferences and practical considerations often collide in the gardening world, with Monty Don's steadfast position continuing to generate discussion among horticulture enthusiasts nationwide.
