The rhizomatous types have colorful and patterned leaves with relatively compact growth. They have the added bonus of a massive display of spring flowers that can cover the entire plant. Rhizomatous begonias range in size from tiny miniatures to large plants such as B. ‘Freddie’ that can have 3-foot leaves under optimum conditions (one growing outdoors in Hawaii grew this large).
A pass along plant for the ages.
B. ‘Erythrophylla’ is an early hybrid that is often called the beef steak Begonia because of its large, kidney-shaped leaves. Rhizomatous leaves have intricate patterns and almost any earth tone color. Some are hairy-leaved, some are round and shiny, and others are star-shaped. There is really no end to the variety of leaf shape, color and texture in this type of Begonia.
B. ‘Erythrophylla’
The subcategory ‘Upright Jointed’
The subcategory of Upright Jointed rhizomatous begonias has an underground rhizome which sends up stems that grow upwards (a bit cane-like), instead of creeping or hugging the ground. Because the main stem is buried below the soil, this type is often quite hardy outdoors.
B. diadema | Photo: Marilyn Watson
Articles About Rhizomatous Begonias
Spotlight on: B. rajah
B. rajah is a rhizomatous species with distinctive foliage. It was discovered in Malaya in 1894 by...
Spotlight on: B. goegoensis
B. goegoensis was discovered in Goego, Sumatra. It was introduced in 1881, and first described in...
Spotlight on: B. gehrtii
B. gehrtii was discovered in Brazil, and described by Irmscher in 1959. It is in Section...
Spotlight on: B. ficicola, now B. microsperma
B. ficicola was discovered by James Dundas, a forestry officer, on December 6, 1946 at the base of...
Spotlight on: B. carrieae
B. carrieae is in the section Magnusia. It was first discovered in Ocozocoautla in the State of...
Rhizomatous: leaves, flower clusters
They're called "rhizomatous," but many are easier to grow than the word is to pronounce...
Rhizomatous Begonias: Care
Bringing Your New Begonia Home…
Rhizomatous begonias are interesting plants: Spectacular…
Rhizomatous Begonias in the Ground
Southern Florida has a climate unlike that of most of the country. Here semperflorens are grown...
Growing B. lanceolata
Sometimes I'm amazed that B. lanceolata is not only alive, but thriving in my care. After all, it...
Easy to grow: B. ‘Black Raspberry’
Very easy to grow and most charming is B. 'Black Raspberry'. It always catches the eye of...
B. ‘Joe Hayden’
My infatuation with B. 'Joe Hayden' began sometime in the late spring or early summer of 1971. I...
B. ‘Anna Lee Salisbury’
This lovely rhizome came to me in an exchange box - I don't remember where it came from or who...
B. ‘Alafia’
B. 'Alafia' is a very popular hybrid of mine developed in 1994. It is a cross between B. 'Cowardly...
B. formosana var. formosana
While attending the 2001 ABS Annual Meeting in Orange County, California a side trip was arranged...
B. versicolor
Begonia versicolor is a rhizomatous begonia from central China. It was discovered by Dr. Edgar...
From B. U388 to B. sizemoreae and finally named B. longiciliata
For those of you who are not familiar with U388 here is a little background on a beautiful plant.
B. U303
At the 1993 Convention in Miami, Tamsin Boardman gave a leaf of a plant labeled B.U303 to Barbara...
B.masoniana
B. masoniana. | Photo: indoorgardenook.comBegonia masoniana was brought to England from Singapore...
B. hydrocotylifolia
B. hydrocotylifolia Otto ex Hooker was discovered in Mexico in 1841, but was not described until...
B. crispula
B. crispula Brade is a Brazilian species described in 1950. Three to six inch orbicular, crinkled...
B. chitoensis
Begonia chitoensis was published in 1977 by Tang-Shui Liu and Ming-Jou Lai. The original citation...
More Photos of Species Rhizomatous Begonia
B. bowera | Photo: Dave H ©2021
B. decora | Photo: Claude Barrère ©2021
B. glandulosa | Photo: Ross Bolwell
B. imperialis | Photo: Al Palacio ©2021
B. manicata
B. masoniana | Photo: Andrejs Marcenko ©2021
B. plebeja
B. aridicaulis | Photo: Buxton Branch of ABS ©2021
B. deliciosa
B. acetosa | Photo: Randy Kerr
B. nelumbiifolia
B. heracleifolia
B. kenworthyae | Photo: 2021 Melbourne Begonia Society
B. strigillosa | Photo: Steve’s Leaves Inc. ©2021
B. violifolia | Photo: Stéphane Follin ©2021
