Begonia masonia is a unique begonia with large leaves

The plant has a creeping habit with leaves that grow at short intervals on long, heavily hairy stems. The leaves can become very large, up to about 30 cm, and have a distinctly bulbous structure. Which means that they are covered with small, pointed bumps.

Care.

Begonia masoniana is easy to care for and thrives best in an airy substrate that is allowed to dry out slightly between waterings, but should never be constantly wet. Our peat-free soil mix is excellent for this species. It also contains plant nutrients that will last a couple of months.

Begonias prefer a slightly higher humidity of 60% or more and a semi-shady location. During the winter, the leaves may get dry edges or even fall off if the humidity is too low. This is nothing to worry about, as the plant will shoot new shoots in the spring. As long as the rhizome is healthy and firm, it should not be thrown away! The species can sometimes go dormant in winter and then have few or no leaves at all.

Botanical description.

Begonia masoniana originates from northern Vietnam and southern China (Guangxi Province), where it grows in shady environments on earthy or rocky slopes.

Appearance.

At the top of each ridge sits a single hair. The leaf edges and broad areas around the main veins are colored in a strong, contrasting dark red tone. It is this pattern that distinguishes 'Mountain' from other varieties of Begonia masoniana, which lack the dark leaf edge.

A closely related and very similar species, Begonia variegata , is often confused with Begonia masoniana. However, there are clear differences, especially in the hairs on the leaves. In Begonia variegata, the hairs are dense and pink to red, while in B. masoniana they are more sparse and translucent. In addition, Begonia variegata has broader and intensely dark red leaf markings, while B. masoniana has narrower markings in a dark brown to black shade. The two species also differ in some details of their flowers.