A Gentle Guide to Begonia Varieties

Thursday, Jun 12, 2025 | 6 minute read | Updated at Thursday, Jun 12, 2025

@ Jojo Len

There is a quiet kind of beauty that doesn’t beg to be seen — it simply is. That is how I feel about begonias.

One sits on my writing desk now, half in shadow, its velvet leaves veined with silver like old secrets. It hasn’t bloomed in months, and yet it soothes me more than any bouquet. In a world that asks us to be loud, bright, and constantly productive, begonias teach a different lesson: to grow gently, in our own time.

With over 2,000 species, Begonias are among the most diverse houseplants in the world. Each type speaks its own language of light, resilience, and color. Some are flamboyant performers; others are quiet philosophers. All, in their way, are reminders of how strength and softness can coexist — not as opposites, but as companions.

I’ve found pieces of myself in each one. Let me show you.

🌿 Rex Begonias: The Bold Artists of the Leaf World

Close-up of a Rex Begonia leaf showing intricate spiraled patterns in deep burgundy and silver hues, with velvety texture, soft natural light highlighting its bold and artistic foliage.

Begonia rex, the so-called “King,” is a sovereign of foliage. Spiraled leaves unfurl like a whispered declaration of self-worth. Deep burgundy, lavender smoke, moon-silver veins — each leaf a story, each curl a revolution.

A Rex doesn’t ask for permission to be bold. She simply is.

I keep mine near the mirror where I brush my hair. She reminds me that beauty is not always soft, and softness is not always silent.

Light: Bright but indirect
Water: Let the soil dry slightly, then water with intention
Humidity: She loves mist like skin loves silk
Tip: Avoid cold drafts and soggy soil. Her roots prefer consistency and warmth.

🌺 Tuberous Begonias: The Summer Bloom Queens

Bright coral and apricot Tuberous Begonia flowers cascading from a hanging basket on a sunlit balcony, capturing the joyful and extravagant bloom of summer.

Begonia × tuberhybrida enters like a theatre goddess — in trailing gowns of flame and coral, blushing pinks, apricot creams. She’s unafraid of her bloom. And neither should we be.

She reminds me that joy isn’t meant to be hidden. It’s meant to spill.

Perfect for hanging baskets by balconies or paths you pass often. These blooms love to be noticed — and they reward the gaze with riotous color.

Light: Partial shade or morning sun
Mood: Extravagant joy
Tip: Deadhead faded flowers to keep the show going and prevent rot.

🍃 Rhizomatous Begonias: The Quiet Healers

Lush green Rhizomatous Begonia leaves in a cozy reading nook with soft dappled sunlight filtering through a window, evoking quiet healing and calm.

These plants are earthbound thinkers. Rhizomatous begonias don’t hurry, and they don’t boast. They creep, they sprawl, they root deep.

Mine lives beside my reading chair, in a corner where no other plant thrives. But she does. And she tells me, in the language of new leaves, that healing doesn’t have to be loud.

There is power in quiet reclamation. And in the act of staying.

Common types: Begonia bowerae, Begonia ‘Escargot’

Light: Filtered or indirect light
Water: Water when the top inch of soil dries
Tip: Use shallow, wide containers to give rhizomes room to stretch.

🌸 Angel Wing & Cane Begonias: Graceful Resilience

Elegant Angel Wing Begonia with speckled wing-shaped leaves and soft pink blooms, standing upright near a mirror in a minimalist, serene feminine interior.

Named for their winged leaves speckled with moonlight, Angel Wing Begonias are both upright and ethereal. They bloom in soft drifts of coral, blush, and red — but it’s their posture I admire most.

She grows upward like a woman who has finally learned to take up space.

I prune mine with care. Not to control her, but to offer shape — the way we refine dreams, not shrink them.

Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Let top inch dry, then soak evenly
Tip: Pinch stem tips regularly to encourage fullness and flowering.

🌼 Wax Begonias (Semperflorens): Everyday Radiance

Humble Wax Begonia with waxy rounded leaves and small red flowers sitting peacefully on a kitchen windowsill bathed in gentle natural light.

Often overlooked for their humility, Wax Begonias are the keepers of quiet consistency. With waxy, rounded leaves and petite blooms in red, white, or pink, they are the steady flame rather than the spark.

She is the love that doesn’t need grand gestures — just presence.

If you’re beginning your plant journey, begin here. These are the friends who stay — even when the season shifts.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Water: Keep evenly moist but not soggy
Tip: Feed monthly during active growth to support blooming.

🌱 Trailing Begonias: Cascading Romance

Trailing Boliviensis Begonia with delicate white and orange blooms cascading gracefully from a rustic wall-mounted planter, illuminated by soft ambient light.

Begonia boliviensis, with its arching stems and delicate blooms, brings softness to any structure. She doesn’t stand tall — she drapes. She adorns. She lets gravity shape her beauty.

To fall isn’t failure — it is another kind of grace.

Perfect for high shelves, terraced walls, or anywhere you want to introduce motion and lightness.

Light: Bright but not harsh
Water: Keep soil lightly moist
Tip: Choose hanging baskets with drainage and water thoroughly when top inch is dry.

🌺 Begonias as Feminine Icons: A Quiet Manifesto

Wax, angel wing, rex, and tuberous begonias growing naturally in a garden setting, with vivid foliage textures and soft blooms

What I’ve learned from my begonias, more than anything, is that there is no one way to grow. Some stretch tall. Some cling low. Some dazzle. Some rest. Some bloom only when no one is looking.

Isn’t that what it means to be a woman, too?

We contain seasons. We hold contradictions. We bloom wildly or not at all — and still, we are whole.

In my slow mornings, pruning or misting or simply sitting beside them, I feel seen. Not for who I show the world — but for who I am when I’m still.

If this resonated, you may also love: A Gentle Guide to Lavender Varieties

🧠 FAQ: All About Begonia Varieties

Q1: What types of Begonia are best for beginners?
A: Wax Begonias and Angel Wing Begonias are low-maintenance and beautifully forgiving.

Q2: Can begonias grow indoors?
A: Yes! Rex, Angel Wing, and Rhizomatous types are particularly well-suited to indoor life with indirect light.

Q3: Are Begonias toxic to pets?
A: Sadly, yes. Keep begonias away from curious cats and dogs.

Q4: Do all Begonias bloom?
A: Technically yes, but some are prized more for foliage than flowers. Like people, not all their beauty is visible.

Q5: What is the symbolic meaning of Begonias?
A: Begonias often symbolize individuality, harmony, and caution — but in our garden of meaning, they whisper softness, sovereignty, and slow awakening.

💌 A Final Petal

If no one has told you lately, let this be it: You don’t need to bloom to be beautiful. Your worth isn’t seasonal.

Be the Begonia on the windowsill. The one growing quietly, leaning gently toward the light.

With warmth always,
Jojo Len

🌸 Keep Wandering Through the Garden

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