I think sometimes people neglect the wax begonia because of its past overuse, and this is too bad. It is a fairly formal plant, with a waxy, almost artificial look. But for constant bright flowers and glossy foliage in a shady environment, wax begonias can't be beat. They need some sun, but do well with just a few hours direct sun a day, as they prefer a moist soil. Having said that, they can tolerate periods of drought well, and seem almost impervious to heat. Once they get going, there's no stopping them. You can start them from seed with no trouble—contrary to what the nervous nellies will tell you. And they come in both bronze and green leaved plants with flowers of red, pink, white, and variations.