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Begonia cucullata
Also called Wax Begonia, Clubbed Begonia, Wax Begonia, Clubed Begonia
Begonia cucullata, known as wax begonia or clubbed begonia, is a compact, fleshy-leaved begonia from South America that is widely grown as a bedding and groundcover plant. It is one of the most common begonias in gardens, and it does best with bright light, moist soil and protection from strong midday heat.
Begonia cucullata, also known as clubbed begonia, is a species of the Begoniaceae that is native to South American countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. A common garden plant and part of the section Begonia, it was described in 1805 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow (1765–1812). The specific epithet "cucullata" means "resembling a hood" or "hooded".
Older varieties prefer shade, though newer varieties tolerate both full sun and shade. Indoors, they can thrive in a south- or east-facing window, provided they are acclimated when their environment is changed.
Native to South America, wax begonia is also found growing invasively in Florida, namely from the northern and central peninsula west to central panhandle, and also in Georgia. The plant may invade waysides, deforested areas, overgrazed pastureland, and wastelands.
Begonia acutifolia · Begonia annulata · Begonia bogneri · Bolivian Begonia · Eyelash Begonia · Begonia carolineifolia · Begonia conchifolia · Begonia davisii · Grape Leaf Begonia · Begonia echinosepala · Fuchsia begonia · Fuchsia Begonia
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Begonia cucullata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
