Species library › Begonia › Begonia acetosa
Begonias Little published: much of this is inferred from related species

Begonia acetosa

A creeping rhizomatous begonia from south-eastern Brazil. Its asymmetric, rounded leaves are dull green above and deep wine-red below, and both sides are covered in short white hairs. Mulford B. Foster collected it in forested mountains near Rio de Janeiro in 1946. It flowers white in spring and early summer. It is used in breeding for its foliage, and it grows well in bright shade with warm, humid but airy conditions.

At home, aim for
Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry
Light Dappled lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Detailed field notes are lacking. Wikipedia describes the collection site as forested mountains near Rio de Janeiro, and the plant's thick, horizontally spreading rhizomes fit a plant of the Atlantic Forest floor and banks, in shade or broken light. It reportedly takes up to about three hours of sun in gardens.

No recorded elevations. 'Forested mountains near Rio de Janeiro' suggests low to mid-elevation Atlantic Forest, perhaps 100–1,000 m, but this is not confirmed.

Brazil Southeast

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.