Monty Don, the television gardener known for his rugged appearance in programmes such as Gardener’s World, has once again ignited a horticultural row by describing begonias as “repulsively ugly”. His forthright opinions have made him a divisive figure in British garden centres, where many customers adore the colourful bedding plants.
The feud dates back to 2000, when Don wrote in The Observer comparing begonias to “a maudlin croon performed by a ‘family entertainer’ in a toupee”. He criticised their bat-wing foliage and lurid colours, likening them to “the pavement outside a pub at closing time on a Saturday night”.
His disdain extends beyond begonias to bedding plants in general. In a 2006 column he accused them of being “disposable, dramatic”, suited only to those who want “instant colour and makeover effects – one-stop gardening needing no knowledge beyond which way up to stick the plant in the ground”.
Don’s preference is for plants suitable for an English garden, and he objects to tropical specimens such as begonias on aesthetic and practical grounds, noting they often struggle in cold springs. Despite his traditional tastes, he has declared his support for remaining in the European Union.
His relationship with garden centres has been strained. A few years ago, they blamed his advice to delay planting until April for a commercially disastrous spring season. Don, however, remains unapologetic, stating his role is not to sell plants but to offer honest guidance.
Born into a wealthy family, Don has spoken openly about his battles with depression and seasonal affective disorder. His favourite flower, the primrose, symbolises the lifting of winter gloom – a stark contrast to the begonias he so despises.
