''Begonia rex'', the king begonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family

Begoniaceae Begoniaceae is a family of flowering plants with two genera and about 2040 species occurring in the subtropics and tropics of both the New World and Old World. All but one of the species are in the genus ''Begonia''. There have been many recent ...

. It is found from

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to southeast China, and has been introduced to Bangladesh, Cuba, and

Hispaniola Hispaniola (, also ) is an island between Geography of Cuba, Cuba and Geography of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and the second-largest by List of C ...

. It is a parent to over 500 cultivars in the ''Begonia'' Rex Cultorum

Group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic iden ...

houseplants A houseplant, also known as a pot plant, potted plant, or indoor plant, is an ornamental plant cultivated indoors. for aesthetic or practical purposes. These plants are commonly found in House, homes, Office, offices, and various indoor spaces, w ...

. Other parents in the multitude of crosses made during the creation of the Group include '' Begonia annulata'', '' B.cathayana'', '' B.decora'', '' B.diadema'', '' B.dregei'', '' B.grandis'', '' B.hatacoa'', '' B.palmata'', and '' B.xanthina''. The following cultivars in the ''Begonia'' Rex Cultorum Group have gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

: 'Benitochiba', 'Carolina Moon', 'China Curl', 'Curly Fireflush', 'David Blais', 'Dewdrop', 'Emerald Beauty', 'Escargot', 'Fireworks', 'Green Gold', 'Helen Lewis', 'Hilo Holiday', 'Ironstone', 'Martin Johnson', 'Midnight Magic', 'Mikado', 'Namur', 'Orient', 'Pink Champagne', 'Princess of Hanover', 'Red Robin', 'Regal Minuet', 'Rocheart', 'Roi de Roses', 'Sal's Comet', 'Sea Serpent', 'Silver Cloud', 'Silver King', and 'Silver Queen'. These plants are noted for their dark leaves with prominent silvery grey bands. When this species was introduced into cultivation, it became popular as a houseplant. Hybrids began to appear with varying leaf patterns as Rex begonias hybridize quite freely.

Light

Rex begonias do well in bright, indirect light. Foliage of these plants could burn when plants are exposed to excessive direct sunlight. The ideal light intensity for most Rex begonia varieties is 1,500 to 2,200 foot-candles.

References

rex House plants Flora of Assam (region) Flora of East Himalaya Flora of Myanmar Flora of South-Central China Flora of Southeast China Plants described in 1857 {{Cucurbitales-stub