Begonia Rex foliage
Pink flowers of Begonia rex
Begonia rex snail rolled leaves
Green and silver leaves Begonia Rex
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Begonia rex, foliage worthy of a Maharaja's jewels
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Many botanical species have their own king or queen. In the Begoniaceae, the sovereign was born in Assam, a mountainous state in northern India. Named Begonia rex, it reigns supreme in the kingdom of plant-addicts, thanks to its silver-tinged evergreen foliage.
How to recognize Begonia rex, the royal begonia?
Begonia rex is a rhizomatous begonia with an upright, compact habit. In pots or in the ground, it grows to no more than 50 centimetres.
Leaves are borne on pubescent red petioles. Asymmetrically oval, sometimes heart-shaped, they have toothed margins. They too are adorned with down.
The botanical variety, the royal begonia, discovered in 19th-century India, has green leaves with silver stripes. The underside is purple, as in begonia maculata. But since leaving the mountains, Begonia rex has given rise to hundreds of hybrids and cultivars. The most spectacular of these are begonia 'Escargot, with its spiral-coiled limbs, and Begonia Fireworks, adorned in purple and pink.
In the wild, Begonia flowers at the end of winter. Panicles of pink flowers crown the foliage.
Some species of begonia are used in cooking or traditional medicine. But not the royal begonia. It is toxic if swallowed. If you live with young children or pets, keep the plant out of their reach.
Our maintenance tips
Begonia rex are tropical plants. They need high humidity but don't like wet foliage. You shouldn't mist them or water their leaves. And to keep their shape harmonious, remember to turn the pot a quarter turn every month.
Watering
Your Royal Begonia tolerates thirst better than excess water. Water only when the soil is three to five centimeters dry. Choose moderate rather than heavy watering, and always use non-calcareous water at room temperature.
If you use a planter or saucer, drain off any stagnant water. It can rot the roots.
Spray
Your begonia rex hates wet foliage. You must not mist the plant.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Begonia rex to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
Your Royal Begonia likes it cramped. Re-pot when the roots escape from the pot or have colonized the entire space.
Choose a pot with holes two or three centimetres wider and deeper than the previous one. Pour a drainage layer (clay balls, gravel, small pebbles, etc.) in the bottom.
Top up with potting soil for green plants, enhanced with perlite or sand. Plant your Begonia rex in the center and add substrate.
Top up with potting soil for green plants, enhanced with perlite or sand. Plant your Begonia rex in the center and add substrate.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Dilute green plant fertilizer with water.
Prune
Remove flowers when they bloom. Their growth is detrimental to that of the foliage.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Take a fifteen-centimeter section of stem or liana with at least three leaves.
Once you've obtained your graft, place it in a vase or glass filled withwater at room temperature. Make sure the node is completely submerged.
Place your cutting in a bright spot, but without direct sunlight. Change the water regularly to keep it clear.
Place your cutting in a bright spot, but without direct sunlight. Change the water regularly to keep it clear.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Family | Begonias - Begoniaceae |
| Type | Begonia - Begonia |
| Species | Royal Begonia - Begonia rex |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposure | |
| Substrat | |
| Planting method |
In pots |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Fritillary Toxic |
| Origin |
South Asia |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 11b |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower color |
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