They vary in size and go dormant in the fall and winter months and restart each spring. Origin: The initial species, B. rex, originated in the forests of northern India. Semperflorens group: - Evergreen, bushy perennial, often grown as half-hardy bedding annuals. New leaves project a warm golden glow and are outlined with a delicate burgundy edging. All Begonias types just need a good bright location out of direct sunlight and they're all set to grow, look beautiful and flower happily. Ballet Rex begonia features fabulous silvery-green leaves edged in mid-green. While there are many ways to play off the colors of this cultivar, the rosy underside of its leaves practically screams out, “Put me with something pink!”, Good bedfellows Good bedfellows With hundreds of cultivars bred for foliage, flowers are secondary compared to the bold leaves. 2. Rex begonias are the showboats of the begonia world and are a type of rhizomatous begonia that are grown for their multicolored leaves. In the end it is a blessing and a curse to have so many varieties of Rex Begonias to choose from. Dwarf elephant’s ear  (Colocasia affinis var. Costa Farms is a wholesale grower that discovers, develops, and grows plants for your home and life -- indoors and out. The Rex cultorum group originated from an Indian species, Begonia rex. They do not get very tall because they grow from creeping rhizomes. Happy Holidays! ‘Lime Rickey’ heuchera (Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’, Zones 4–8) 2. Let’s take a look at some of the more common types that will look perfect in your garden. Complement your Rex Begonia with these varieties: Red Aglaonema. 2. Begonia Plants Plant begonias for a long-lasting display of showy flowers. Silver Limbo is a compact, small-leafed variety that offers beautiful metallic-silver foliage that has purple-red backsides. Its moniker reflects the snail-shaped curl located where the base of the leaf meets the petiole (leaf stem). Rex begonias are rhizomatous begonias crossed with Begonia rex, creating a group of begonias that are grown for their attractive leaves instead of their blooms. Overwintering: Rex begonias make excellent houseplants and can easily be overwintered indoors. of the member-only content library. Good bedfellows There are well over 1,000 different species of this plant that you can grow in your garden. 3. This means that you have lots of choice. The species are terrestrial (sometimes epiphytic) herbs or undershrubs, and occur in subtropical and tropical moist climates, in South and Central America, Africa, and southern Asia. They frequently have large leaves (up to 6 inches long) that are brightly colored in various shades of green, red, silver, and even purple. These plants prefer shaded, humid conditions and rich, aerated soil like that found on the forest floor. Information & Facts on Begonias. This aggression proves itself in garden performance. 3. It grows 8 inches tall and wide. For more information on begonias, visit the Web site of the American Begonia Society, www.begonias.org. A bit later, additional varieties of Rex begonias were found growing in the Andes Mountains, including those with leaf colors of orange, yellow and red. Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Z 4–8), It’s love at first sight when gardeners come across ‘Stained Glass’. To supply plants with adequate humidity, place containers on a tray of gravel, where runoff water may collect, evaporate, and raise the air-moisture level. The rich, warm tones of ‘Cowardly Lion’ are a breath of fresh air when compared to the typical cool, blue tones often present in many shade garden plants. Wax begonias are typically grown as annuals, reaching 6 to 12 inches tall and wide. Silver dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’, USDA Hardiness Zones 10–11) Pink, Purple, Red, Silver, Variegated, White. So are we! The chocolate-colored tones are speckled across the golden leaves, rather than following the veins. As you might expect from a variety named Pink Charming, this one offers pink and green leaves playfully splashed in silver. A particularly showy indoor plant, Yamileth offers green-black leaves that transition to silver toward the edges. ‘Escargot’ is an extremely popular Rex hybrid that is quickly becoming a household name. ‘Marmaduke’ has the same coloring as ‘Cowardly Lion’ only with a twist. Before purchasing your plant research the cultivar’s specific needs. Zebra … There are many different varieties of Rex begonia, including hybrid varieties, available. Friendship plant (Pilea involucrata, Z 11), Begonia Rex-cultorum group, (bah-GO-nyah). The leaves come in every color, pattern and shade, and every size and shape. All Rights Reserved. Email us if you have any questions and one of our houseplant experts will get back to you. Golden St. John’s wort(Hypericum calycinum ‘Briggadoon’, Zones 5–9) Get our latest tips, how-to articles, and instructional videos sent to your inbox. Because it's a relatively short houseplant, Rex begonia is perfect for desks and tabletops where is wildly colorful, variegated foliage makes it a perfect contrast against other houseplants. All Rex Cultorum types are descended from the Indian species B. rex that was crossed with other types of rhizomatous begonias. ‘Jungle Gold’ impatiens(Impatiens auricoma ‘Jungle Gold’, annual) ‘Persian Chocolate’ moneywort (Lysimachia congestiflora ‘Persian Chocolate’, Z 6–9) 3. 3. Rhizomatous: Grown for their showy leaves, these begonias are heavy spring bloomers. Good bedfellows Rex begonias headline the show for months on end in any shade garden, especially when grown in containers. It grows 8 inches tall and wide. 1. ‘Dark Star’ coleus  (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Dark Star’, Zone 11) The fabulous foliage of Rex begonias (Begonia Rex-cultorum group) offers a large range of colors, shapes, and textures. These plants are grown almost exclusively … Our articles, blogs, tips, and photos help you use plants to beautify your living spaces and enhance your life. This feature has been temporarily disabled during the beta site preview. This rhizomatous perennial is native to rocky, forested valleys and slopes in northeastern India, southern China, and Vietnam. They are actually a type of rhizomatous begonia. Good bedfellows Do not allow water to remain on the leaves, other wise they become susceptible to botrytis. Despite its exotic looks, Rex begonia is actually easy to grow. All varieties were selected to finish uniformly. See all of our most popular Begonia Rex varieties, including Escargot Check to see if any need water or other care. Rex begonias are the showboats of the begonia world and are a type of rhizomatous begonia that are grown for their multicolored leaves. Choosing companion plants that echo these rich colors results in an eye-catching combination. ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Garten­meister Bonstedt’, Z 9–10) Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planis­capus ‘Nigrescens’, Z 6–11) A delightful variety with silvery leaves, Fairy also adds shades of pink and cream in its leaves. It can grow 2 feet tall. With 1,831 species, Begonia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. Terrestrial species in the wild are commonly upright- stemmed, rhizomatous, or tuberous. Get complete site access to decades of expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. In Southern regions, it may benefit from a protection from direct sun during the heat of the day, but in Northern regions, some sun on the leaves presents no problem. Many plants in this class have hairy stems or felted leaves. Begonia Rex Dibs™ boast high vigor and quick crops times compared to all other Begonia Rex lines. Begonia Rex is a popular and well-known tropical Begonia plant variety. 1. Red Kiss Rex begonia grows about 8 inches tall and wide. Canes: These begonias have tough, elongated stems with a bamboolike appearance. ‘Green Gold’ is a vigorous oldie but goodie with striking, predominantly silver leaves and deep green veining. Rumba Rex begonia is a spectacular selection that shows off reddish-green leaves and silvery variegation. Since they have been hybridized over and over since the 1800’s it is difficult to always know the perfect growing conditions for each variety, because they are mixed with so many varieties. Its stunning chocolate-colored leaf veins veil the golden leaves, which become darker with age and make a picture-perfect foil for yellow-based foliage companions. Common Rex begonias include the Curly Fireflush, Red Delta, Silver Cloud and Satin Jazz. Fantastic in plant pots, beds, and cascading from hanging baskets. 2. It grows about 6 inches tall and wide. Conditions: Considered perennials in tropical and semitropical climates, Rex begonias are frost tender and typically grown as annuals or houseplants in North America. We’re your online gardening resource for plant info and inspiration. Propagate by leaf or stem cuttings. Avoid placing plants near drafts. Amongst the major classifications are the fibrous rooted, rhizomatous and tuberous rooted begonias. The Begonia rex is one of the most beautiful houseplants out there. Botanical Name: Begonia boliviensis. Depending on the variety, that may mean purple, pink, red, silver, or black. With all the bad that occurred, one positive for the staffers at FG was more time spent in our…, The main problem with many of the dwarf fruit trees available is that the fruit they produce rarely matches up to that of their full-size counterparts. 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