Rex Begonia Species, Original Rex Begonia, Putzey's Rex Begonia

Rhizomatous species Begonia rex (Putzey's). This is the 'original' rex begonia discovered by chance as a hitch-hiker in a Wardian Case in...Read More the mid 1800's. It is this begonia that gave rise to today's modern B. rex-cultorum hybrids. Easier to grow than the hybrids, this species can tolerate temperatures into the mid 40's.

B. rex is a rhizomatous type.

I love these plants! Have only ever grown them as houseplants, but the two I have now are a good 6 years old, at least. They've survived ...Read Moremy lack of skills, a move, and 2 cats.

i love my rexes, and if i had to give up most of my plants, they would be the very last to go. i stumbled upon my first one, the Iron Cr...Read Moreoss, at a grocery store of all places. from there my obsession just sort of exploded. (the ones in the picture are divisions rooted from the mother plant) eventually, lets say after a few years, rexes do need to be divided and repotted because of aging leaves and rhizomes. and another tip-when they flower-or when they want to, pinch off the buds. it will ensure that the plant is not spending its energy on flowering, and will instead make its leaves more colorful.
in general,
i find them very easy to take care of. any problems i have with them are when i give them too much water, which happens every now and then.

-sarah:)

p.s. sorry note is so long

"Complete Gardening in India", by Gopalswamiengar lists this plant as Begonia "Cleopatra".