At times regarded as the height of ‘plant fashion’ and at other times seemingly disregarded by the major growers Rex Begonias have always been popular with gardeners especially as house plants. And they are back in fashion again.
Grown as foliage plants they are the Begonia Rex cultorum group, rhizomatous hybrids grown for leaf shape, texture and pattern.
Some outstanding cultivars include Begonia Rex ‘Iron Cross’ (pictured) and Begonia Rex ‘escargot’ with its fascinating circular swirl of pattern on the foliage.
Rex Begonias, plants, varieties and types have been used as a house plant for many years they come in a range of colors and leaf forms and are readily available for sale from online nurseries.
Care and Growing Conditions
What we know as Rex Begonias are plants that belong to the The ‘Rex Cultorum’ group (they all have a little of the species Begonia Rex in them}.
And these are a rhizomatous type begonia that have been hybridised for many years to produce some unique foliage patterns.
Lighting
Indirect but bright light is best
Watering
Best watered from below to prevent marking the foliage, they like free draining soil and do not like to sit in water, the soil should be allowed to dry out partially before watering. Commercial growers often use soaker hoses.
Temperature
If it gets to cold, you are in trouble, around 22C (70F) seems to work well, a comfortable room temperature, a little humidity as well. Hot conditions are not favourable at all.
Propagation
As nearly every Rex Begonia is a hybrid, they are only propagated by division of the rhizomes. They can also be propagated by layering a leaf.
If you are starting out with Rex Begonias we suggest you look for some of the outstanding varieties offered for sale online. And then consider trying to propagate by the leaf layering method.
Rex Begonia Celebration
Varieties
- Begonia Rex ‘Black Beauty’.
- Begonia Rex ‘Dark Mambo’.
- Her Majesty.
- Magma.
- Begonia rex yuletide
You may also be interested in
- Begonia General Information
- Tuberous Begonias
- Begonia undulata
- Begonia sanguina
- Begonia reniformis
- Begonia listada
- Begonia foliosa
- Begonia erythrophylla
- Begonia domingensis
- Begonia coccinea
- Begonia albo picta rosea
More Info
Rex Begonias do flower, however the flowers are not seen as important at all. These are strictly ‘foliage plants’.
