Description
Begonia ferox is a rare and unusual houseplant. Ferox mean “ferocious” in Latin, and this begonia certainly looks ferocious, though in this case looks are a bit deceiving. The mature ovate leaves of B. ferox are green and covered with pointy cone-shaped spikes called bullae. These spikes are very dark red, almost black, covering the surface of the leaves. With magnification, each spike has a tiny red tip with a protruding white hair which eventually falls off. Young plants and leaves do not have the spikes initially, but the spikes develop as the leaf matures. Begonia ferox is rhizomatous, with a creeping rhizome about 1 cm thick. New leaves sprout from nodes along the rhizome. The plant is monoecious, having both male and female flowers on the same individual. Male flowers are pinkish-yellow while female flowers are pinkish white.
Begonia ferox was not discovered until 2011 and published in 2013 by C. I Peng and Yan Liu. It is native to the limestone karst regions of Guangxi Province in Southwestern China and was found growing at an elevation of 130 meters. Guangxi is notably one of China’s warmest regions with high humidity and lush broadleaf evergreen forests.
Begonia ferox is not for a beginner plant parent. It must have high humidity and we recommend growing in a terrarium. Well-drained alkaline soil is essential as well.
You will receive a small starter plant in a 4.5″ round pot as shown in the photos.
