Sign in Start free
Species library › Begonia › Begonia tenuifolia
Begonias Little published: much of this is inferred from related species

Begonia tenuifolia

Begonia tenuifolia is a small tuberous begonia from Java, Sumatra and the Lesser Sunda Islands, and one of the earliest begonias described, in 1791. It grows in seasonally dry tropical places, appearing with the rains and dying back to a tuber in the dry season. Plants are usually about 25 cm tall but can flower at 2 cm, with round juvenile leaves and variably patterned, narrow adult leaves.

At home, aim for
Day Warm-growingTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Humid airBand in Plantistry
Light ShadeDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Grows in seasonally dry tropical habitats; the synonym B. rupicola suggests rocky sites, and like other small Malesian tuberous begonias it is expected on shaded rocks, banks and cliff ledges that are wet in the rainy season. Seeds are spread by rain splash from a cup-shaped fruit.

Elevation is not given in the sources we could open. Our measured data file had no usable wild GBIF records for this name, so no measured climate is available.

Indonesia: SumatraIndonesia: JavaIndonesia: Lesser Sunda Islands

🔒 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

Grow Begonia tenuifolia? Add it to a free garden and its full profile opens. Pro opens all 38,374 profiles in the library, plants and fungi.

Start free Sign in

More Begonia

Begonia bowerae Begonia glandulosa Begonia maculata Begonia carrieae Begonia darthvaderiana Begonia masoniana Begonia imperialis Begonia mazae Begonia dregei Begonia lubbersii Begonia heracleifolia Begonia versicolor All 2315 →

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