Begonia 'Ironstone' (R) | begonia 'Ironstone'

RHS

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

A rhizomatous, tender, evergreen perennial with a neat habit and green leaves with a metallic silver patterning and red undersides

Position

Partial shade

Loam

0.1-0.5 metres

0.1-0.5 metres

Loam

Partial shade

Family: Begoniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Begonia can be annuals, evergreen or deciduous perennials or shrubs, with fibrous, tuberous or rhizomatous roots and usually asymmetrical leaves, often strikingly patterned, and small or large flowers, both male and female in the same cluster
Name Status: Accepted
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea: Rex begonias are evergreen, rhizomatous perennials grown for their handsome, brightly coloured leaves, rather than the small pale pink or white flowers which may appear in spring, summer or autumn

Requires frost-free conditions and high humidity. Avoid getting water on leaves. See begonia cultivation - houseplants

Propagate by leaf cuttings or sections of rhizome in spring

No pruning required just remove dead or damaged leaves

May be susceptible to caterpillars, mealy bugs, mites, glasshouse thrips, vine weevil and aphids

May be susceptible to grey moulds, powdery mildews, stem rot and rhizome rot