Rex Begonias Made for Shady Gardens
Grow Striking Begonia Foliage Plants as a Houseplant or Outside
Dec 29, 2008
Begonia rex cultorum is well known for the boldly colored leaves but not admired for the tiny flowers. The mounding shaped plant has rhizomatous, but shallow roots. Rex begonia plants grow approximately 12” – 18” tall.
Rex Begonia Houseplants
In common with coleus, rex begonias make good houseplants because they grow best in low light situations. However, compared with some coleus, these begonia plants stay relatively compact. Rex begonias never go dormant, such as tuberous begonias, able to be enjoyed all year.
Rex begonias tolerate moderate to diffused light. Place these plants close to a north window, where no direct sun will burn the leaves. In a room with bright sunshine, place the plant several feet away from the window. Lower light conditions improve leaf color, a good plant health indicator in rex begonias.
These begonia plants grow healthier in cooler temperatures with an indoor humidity of fifty percent or more. However, overhead watering or misting is not recommended. Instead, set pots planted with rex begonias on pebbles in saucers or trays and fill with water to just below the base of the container.
Rex Begonias in Shady Gardens
Rex begonias tolerate part or full shade gardens where leaves will not be burned by direct sun. Red or pink impatiens, for example, will pick up a rex begonia’s colors. Silver leaved plants are excellent near red leaved holiday plants.
For planter combinations, choose plants with slow growth that like cool moist growing conditions. Or, consider planting rex begonias in a separate pot but grouping it along-side other potted plants to avoid being covered by larger leaved plants.
Tuberous, semperflorens, hardy, cane types and rex begonias grow in the same shady conditions outside. However, it is the cane type and rex type begonias that make the best houseplants.
Growing Rex Begonias
Soil surface should be dry between watering. Repot in early spring using an organic rich potting soil. Also at this time, prune back growth and begin to fertilize once every 1-½ months, at half strength through summer.
Rex begonias are susceptible to crown rot, powdery mildew and fungus. All plants that are moved between indoor and outside growing conditions, each season, should be checked for whitefly, aphids, mealy bugs, and spider mites.
Rex Begonia Cultivars and Colors
Not as prolific as coleus, rex begonias, nevertheless, have many cultivars to choose from. Begonia rex cultorum ‘Fairy’ has silvery foliage. The cultivar ‘Black Coffee’ has a gray-green leaf color contrasting with the red underside. The leaves have toothed margins and are deeply incised.
The Great American Cities series is a group of small and compact rex begonia plants. Each begonia has as colorful a name as appearance:
- 'Albuquerque Midnight Sky' is described as sunset pink foliage with indigo blue veining.
- 'Boston Cherries & Chocolate' has dark pink on the margins of bright silver leaves.
- 'Chicago Fire' is magenta and dark purple.
- 'Maui Mist' is pink and silver with dark pink centers.
- 'Maui Storm' has a metallic looking red leaf.
- 'Omaha Beefsteak' has blood-red leaves with dark purple centers.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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