Rex Begonia
Begonia rex
Rex Begonia is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, giving the garden structure and color all season long.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Rex Begonia
Plant it in part shade. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 10–11. Expect it to reach about 12 in tall and 12 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Rex Begonia
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Rex Begonia into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 10 in January.
Comes in 5 varieties
Same plant, same care - pick the variety you are growing.
Good to know about Rex Begonia
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses via soluble calcium oxalates, most concentrated in the underground rhizome. Causes mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting; kidney failure in grazing horses. per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
The high humidity above 50% that keeps its leaves happy is exactly what powdery mildew needs, and mildew infects without wet leaves. Raise the air's humidity, never mist. per NC State and UConn
How wet to keep it
Sources split on moisture: keep it evenly moist and drying slightly between, or err on the dry side. All agree the real killer is overwatering, not drought. per NC State and UConn
Grown for its leaves
The show is the boldly patterned, often metallic foliage in greens, reds, silvers, pinks, lavenders and purples. Its tiny pinkish-white flowers are insignificant and easily overlooked. per NC State
A tender houseplant or annual
Frost kills it, so it is hardy outdoors only in the warmest frost-free zones. Everywhere colder, grow it as a houseplant or summer annual and overwinter it indoors. per NC State and Minnesota
Deer resistant
Begonias are listed as deer resistant and are generally left alone by rabbits too. As always, that means seldom browsed, not deer-proof: a hungry deer may still sample it. per NC State and Clemson
Wants steady warmth
A warm-lover: happiest around 66 to 73 F by day with nights above 55 F, and growth slows below 60 F. Cold and frost set it back. per Clemson and UConn
What pairs well with Rex Begonia
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Rhododendron
Shares part shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 5.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Northern Sea Oats
Shares part shade and moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Camellia
Shares part shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; stands well above at 6.6 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
Gardenia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate to high water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Christmas Fern
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Bergenia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Hellebore
Shares part shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Autumn Fern
Shares part shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
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