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Starleaf begonia

Begonia heracleifolia

Also called Star Begonia, Star Leaf Begonia

Starleaf begonia
Photo: Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0

Starleaf begonia is a tuberous-rooted species from Mexico and Central America, grown for its large, star-shaped leaves with radiating veins. It needs bright light, good drainage and watering that lets the top of the soil dry out between drinks.

Family
Begoniaceae (Begonia family)
Grows as
Epiphyte
Light
Bright indirect
Water
Water when the top few centimetres of soil are dry, and avoid soggy roots and wet leaves.
Soil
Free-draining mix such as peat-free potting mix with added perlite or bark.
Temperature
18–28 °C; protect below 10 °C
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Native range
Mexico to Honduras
Climate
seasonally dry tropical

About

Begonia heracleifolia, the star begonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae. It is native to Mexico and northern Central America, and has been introduced to Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. A widespread species that is adapted to drought, it possesses considerable genetic and morphological variation, particularly in leaf shape and patterning.

Other Begonia plants

Begonia acutifolia · Begonia annulata · Begonia bogneri · Bolivian Begonia · Eyelash Begonia · Begonia carolineifolia · Begonia conchifolia · Clubed begonia · Begonia davisii · Grape Leaf Begonia · Begonia echinosepala · Fuchsia begonia

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Begonia heracleifolia 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.

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