Metallic blue leaves with iridescent color

Begonia pavonina is a shade begonia with an incredibly cool metallic shimmer effect. The species is endemic to the dark undergrowth of montane forests on the southern Malay Peninsula, where it grows at higher altitudes above sea level on shaded slopes of soil or rock.

The spectacular blue metallic shimmer of the leaves is what gave the plant its name.

B. pavonina has a creeping rhizome from which leaves grow at short intervals on long red stems. The leaves are about 15-30 centimeters in size and are also completely red on the underside. But the upper side of the leaves is the main attraction here.

If B. pavonina grows in shaded conditions, the leaves will, after a while, start to form so-called iridoplasts. These are highly modified chloroplasts arranged in a crystal-like lattice and can thus capture about 10% more light than conventional chloroplasts. A side effect of this arrangement is the strong, blue metallic shimmer on the leaves, which is best observed from a certain angle and in darkness with a flashlight. But even without such "tricks," the effect can be seen, especially in indirect daylight, where the leaves shimmer beautifully greenish to blue.

Iridoplasts are actually only formed in low light. If B. pavonina gets enough light, the leaves simply remain in their normal green to bronze color. Our plants are grown under relatively bright conditions, which is why the blue shimmer is not always particularly pronounced. Fortunately, the color change happens quite quickly, so you can observe this effect at home after a few weeks.

The flowers of B. pavonina are pale pink and are (almost) always formed in pairs on long stems.

'Dark Form' of B. pavonina shows a distinct dark blue iridescence. According to some authors, 'Dark Form' is possibly a hybrid of B. pavonina and B. grandis, while 'Cyan Form' is thought to be the true (and noticeably more difficult to grow) authentic B. pavonina. The form we sell, we are not sure which it is, but it appears to be 'Dark Form'.

Care

B. pavonina grows best in loose substrate (e.g., 2 parts potting soil + 1 part perlite or our peat-free soil mixture) which can sometimes dry out and should not be completely wet all the time. Due to the creeping growth of the rhizome, flat and wide planters are particularly suitable as pots for this species.

If you want to highlight the beautiful blue glow of the leaves, B. pavonina should be grown in shade. The best way to find good light conditions is by gradually giving the plant either more or less light at regular intervals until you have found the perfect spot. Tip: The shimmer is particularly pronounced in young leaves. If a new leaf emerges with a strong shimmer, the right amount of light has been found. For plants grown under artificial light, this is about 2000-4000 lux.

B. pavonina likes mild temperatures and grows particularly well when it can cool down at night.

Ideal temperature 18-24°C with a nighttime drop. Buy Begonia pavonina