Begonia verticillata (syn. Begonia luxurians)

A Brazilian cane species under its accepted name

Begonia verticillata, long grown under the synonym Begonia luxurians, is native to southeastern Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

It belongs to warm, humid Atlantic Forest vegetation with regular rainfall and light broken by the canopy. These regional forest conditions shaped the species in southeastern Brazil.

Care for cane-forming foliage plants

Repotting

Repot Begonia verticillata when roots fill the pot or the mix loses its open structure. Handle the fine roots gently and restake tall canes with loose ties that allow them to thicken.

Light

Place Begonia verticillata beside a large east-facing window, or a short distance from a south or west window behind a sheer curtain.

Watering

Water Begonia verticillata when the upper layer of the substrate has dried while the centre of the root ball still feels faintly moist. Drain the pot completely.

Temperature

Keep the canes in stable indoor warmth, away from cold glass and abrupt temperature changes.

Humidity and airflow

Moderate humidity is workable, while somewhat higher humidity can help new leaves open cleanly. Keep air moving around the canes and foliage.

Begonia verticillata (syn. Begonia luxurians): common symptoms

Browning narrow leaflet tips

The narrow terminal points can brown first after the root ball dries, in hot airflow or after sudden exposure to stronger sun. Water thoroughly when the mix is partly dry. If the mix remains wet and the tips continue to die, inspect the roots. Existing brown tips will remain. Look for clean tips on the next tier of palmately divided leaves.

Lower leaves fall from the tall stems

A shrub can shed some shaded older leaves as it grows. Long internodes, smaller new leaves and a lean toward the window indicate insufficient light; sudden loss after cold or drought indicates shock. Increase filtered light gradually or prune a firm stem above a node. Soft blackening at the base is rot.

Branching stems lean or split

Mature divided leaves create a broad, top-heavy crown. Add support before moving the pot, or shorten an overlong stem above a healthy node to encourage lower branching. A dry mechanical split can be pruned cleanly. A wet, dark or foul-smelling split must be removed below the affected tissue.

Leaves droop although the mix is damp

Check the lower root ball for compaction and the roots for brown softness. Partial root loss can leave the canopy limp even in wet mix. Remove damaged roots, restore an open mix and reduce the pot volume if necessary. Root healthy stem tips if the base is damaged.

New leaflets are stippled or distorted

Inspect the many narrow undersides and growing tips for spider mites and thrips. Mites cause fine pale stippling and sometimes webbing between leaflet divisions; thrips leave irregular scars and black specks. Isolate and treat the entire divided surface, repeating at the labelled interval.

Begonia verticillata is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• The roots and rhizomes contain the highest levels of soluble oxalates, and the sap can irritate skin.
• Chewing may cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting or stomach pain. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop.

Begonia luxurians and Begonia verticillata: why did the name change?

Begonia honours Michel Bégon. The epithet verticillata means whorled, referring to parts arranged around a common point.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Begonia in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 1056.

José Mariano da Conceição Vellozo first described Begonia verticillata in 1831 in Flora Fluminensis, volume 10, plate 45.

The older name Begonia luxurians is also widely used for this plant. Michael Joseph François Scheidweiler first described Begonia luxurians in 1848 in Allgemeine Gartenzeitung 16: 131. Kew’s World Checklist treats it as a synonym of Begonia verticillata.