Begonia ‘Alice Faye’

A registered Australian cane hybrid

Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ was raised by Lyla Kilpatrick in Western Australia in 1988 from ‘Lenore Olivier’ × Begonia hydrocotylifolia. The American Begonia Society registered the cultivar in 2022.

It arose directly from that horticultural cross and has no single wild locality. Its background is therefore horticultural, with ancestry from a cane hybrid and Begonia hydrocotylifolia.

How to care for Begonia ‘Alice Faye’

Light

Place Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ beside a large east-facing window, or 0.5–1.5 m back from a south or west window behind a sheer curtain. Too much unfiltered light is visible when bleached tan patches and crisp margins appear on the window-facing leaves. Insufficient light shows as this change: the canes lengthen between nodes, lean towards the window and carry smaller, duller new leaves. The markings are genetically fixed, while stronger light increases the risk of scorch. Healthy growth shows the deep leaf colour and glossy finish most clearly. Dim conditions weaken its form, while direct sun causes scarring and does not improve the plant.

Watering

Water Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ when the upper 2–3 cm has dried while the centre of the root ball still feels faintly moist. Apply enough water to rewet every side of the pot and allow all excess to drain away. The upright canes do not provide much protection from a dry root ball. Prolonged dryness first shows in the oldest foliage. If the centre remains saturated, roots weaken before the tall canopy necessarily shows a clear warning. On ‘Alice Faye’, check the centre of the root ball as well as the surface. Tall canes can hide a core that is still damp. A warm, well-lit plant in a close-fitting pot needs water sooner than one in cool, weak light.

Substrate and roots

Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ has a close network of fine roots supporting upright canes. Use a springy blend based on coir or peat-free substrate with fine bark and pumice or perlite. Dense compost stays wet around the cane bases and becomes harder to water evenly as it ages. Choose a close-fitting pot that can support the upright growth without adding a deep layer of unused mix. Use only enough extra pot depth to stabilise ‘Alice Faye’; unused wet mix remains saturated for too long.

Temperature

Keep Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ at 18–27 °C, with 14 °C as a cautious indoor minimum. Do not let leaves touch a winter pane or place the root ball in the path of an open-door draught. Keep it outside the direct stream of a radiator, fan heater or strong cooling vent.

Humidity and airflow

Aim for stable moderate humidity and keep the plant out of persistently damp air. Around 45–60% is workable and 55–70% is useful while new leaves open. Clean, full-sized new leaves on ‘Alice Faye’ indicate that humidity is sufficient. Leave space between plants so moist leaves and the top of the pot can dry normally.

Fertilising

Feed Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ with a balanced complete houseplant fertiliser at quarter to half strength every three to five weeks while it is actively making leaves or shoots. Base feeding on active growth, useful light, stable warmth and normal water use. Strong feed cannot correct poor light and instead leaves damaging fertiliser salts in the shallow root zone. If the plant is flowering as well as extending its canes, keep the same dilute balanced feed and avoid switching to a high-phosphorus formula.

Repotting

Repot Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ when roots circle the pot or emerge below, water runs through dry channels, the canes become unstable or the mix loses its spring. Move to a pot only 2–4 cm wider so unused substrate does not remain wet. Move the central root ball intact. The fine roots tear easily and should not be washed bare. Repot during visible growth and keep the plant at the same depth afterward. Restake ‘Alice Faye’ immediately after repotting, but leave each tie loose enough for the cane to thicken.

Support, pruning, handling and leaf care

Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ can be kept bushier by shortening an overlong cane just above a node during active growth. Tie tall stems loosely to a slim stake before their leafy canopy becomes top-heavy. Turn the container gradually between growth flushes. Sudden large rotations make soft stems or petioles bend towards the new light direction. Support each leaf of Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ from below while wiping the large glossy dark leaves with a soft damp cloth, or rinse the canopy gently and let it dry in moving air. Wait until an ageing leaf is fully yellow, then cut it at the base. Do not pull at a resistant stalk.

Common problems with Begonia ‘Alice Faye’

Large rounded leaves droop or fold down

Before watering, press the mix below the surface to check its moisture. If it is partly dry and the pot feels light, water thoroughly and let it drain. If the mix is wet and several leaves remain drooped, inspect the roots for rot or compaction.

A tall cane leans under the broad foliage

Begonia ‘Alice Faye’ develops taller, increasingly branched canes carrying medium to large rounded leaves. Add a loose support before a firm stem creases, or shorten an overlong cane just above a node. Cut back immediately if the bend is dark, wet or soft.

An older cane stays bare after leaf loss

Cane begonias may keep firm bare sections after older leaves fall. During active growth, shorten the cane above a healthy lower node to encourage branching and root the healthy top as a stem cutting. If the same stem keeps losing leaves, inspect its base for damage.

Dark, soft tissue at the cane base

Soft, wet or sour-smelling tissue indicates active stem decay. Follow the damage up the cane and cut where the inside is firm and healthy. Root the healthy top separately. Remove the affected base and inspect neighbouring canes and roots before the damage spreads.

Is ‘Alice Faye’ toxic to cats and dogs?

‘Alice Faye’, including its broad, rounded leaves, contains soluble calcium oxalates and is toxic to cats and dogs. A pet that chews the leaves or a stem may drool or vomit; the highest concentration occurs in the roots. Collect pruned stems and fallen leaves from below the upright canopy. Block access to the open root ball and every cane cutting during repotting. Choose a position where fallen leaves cannot land within a pet’s reach as the upright stems gain height. If drooling, vomiting or swallowing follows contact with the leaves or a stem, contact a veterinarian. Bag discarded roots, spent substrate and cuttings after repotting, then wash hands.

The name and history of ‘Alice Faye’

‘Alice Faye’ is also the name of the American singer and film actor. The plant may have been named for her, although no dedication is documented.

Lyla Kilpatrick raised this upright-stemmed Begonia in Western Australia in 1988 from ‘Lenore Olivier’ × Begonia hydrocotylifolia. It was formally registered in 2022.