Begonia thiemei

Palm leaf begonia

A low, spreading rhizomatous begonia from the humid lowland and foothill forests of south-eastern Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, grown for its deeply hand-shaped leaves. It reaches about 20 cm tall and spreads to around 45 cm. Treat it as a warm, shade-loving forest-floor plant that wants steady moisture and humid air.

At home, aim for

Day Warm-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light ShadeDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

No rest periodGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Shaded, steep, wooded slopes and path edges in tall and medium evergreen rainforest (selva alta and mediana perennifolia), including karst terrain with humus and leaf litter, and abandoned shade-coffee plantings. One label records it growing on a rotten stump.

GBIF specimen elevations run from near sea level to about 1,280 m, with most below about 650 m.

Mexico SoutheastMexico GulfGuatemalaHonduras

🔒 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.