Plant · GBIF taxon 7303475
Polka Dot Begonia
Begonia maculataAlso known as Trout Begonia, Spotted Begonia
Polka Dot Begonia anchors itself in the humid shade of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, displaying striking olive-green leaves peppered with metallic silver spots and rich crimson undersides. Clusters of delicate white to pale pink blossoms droop from tall bamboo-like stems throughout the warmer months. As a classic rainforest understory plant, it thrives in high humidity and dappled light away from harsh direct sun.
TropicalFoliage PlantRainforest
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Mealybugs
- Thrips
- Snails
ThreatsDeforestation, habitat loss
HabitatsRainforest understory, tropical forests
Life span5–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyBegoniaceae
- SpeciesBegonia maculata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; keep out of reach of pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains insoluble calcium oxalates throughout the foliage and stems that cause intense oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting if swallowed by pets.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for asymmetrical olive leaves dotted with silvery white spots, dark red undersides, and jointed cane stems.
- What to do
- Position high on shelves or in hanging planters well out of reach of domestic animals.
Responsible observation
- Lighting: Position in bright indirect light to preserve the intense red underside coloration.
- Humidity: Provide ambient humidity above 50 percent to prevent brown leaf tips.
- Pruning: Pinch back tall stems in spring to encourage bushy growth.
Close Relative Swallowtail Garden Seeds / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative Salix / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Diogo Luiz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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