Begonia luxurians

Palm Leaved Begonia Begoniaceae

A wonderfully architectural begonia, Begonia luxurians looks almost more like a palm than a begonia. Its tall, red-purple, cane-like stems carry enormous palmate leaves divided into numerous narrow, serrated leaflets, with coppery-bronze undersides. Fragrant clusters of creamy-white to pale-yellow flowers appear above the foliage from spring into summer. 

Native to the Atlantic rainforests of southeastern Brazil, particularly Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, it grows in humid, shaded forest and cloud-forest habitats, often in moist places near streams. 

The species was described by Michael Joseph François Scheidweiler in 1848. 

Best grown in humus-rich, well-drained soil in partial or dappled shade, with good humidity and shelter. It is decidedly frost-tender: the RHS rates it H1B, suitable for growing outdoors in summer but requiring frost protection. 

Height: 1.5–2.5m
Spread: 50–100cm
Flowers: Spring–summer
Hardiness: H1B — frost tender