Trailing watermelon begonia is not a watermelon or a begonia. It is an herbaceous perennial native to Southeast Asia in the Urticaceae family. It is a small, 6-inch plant that can spread to 2 feet wide by means of stems that root where they touch the ground. This is a tropical plant that grows easily in bright indirect light and a humid atmosphere. Keep soil consistently moist during the growing season, but reduce watering somewhat from fall to late winter. This plant needs very good soil drainage. Pinch stems to shape as needed. Propagate it easily through stem cuttings. Although it is a flowering plant, the blossoms rarely appear on indoor plants, are green, blend with the foliage, and not very showy. It is grown for its lush and attractive foliage. It is most often used as a houseplant, in terrariums, hanging baskets, or as a ground cover within its growing zones Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Leaves drop can occur if houseplants plants are near cold drafts. Poorly drained soils can result in roots rot.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheEpiscia 'Pink Brocade'Goeppertia insignisStrobilanthes alternata 'Exotica'
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Cascading; Creeping; Prostrate; Spreading
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green; Pink; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Crenate; Undulate
Leaf feel
Fleshy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Wavy-edged stiff leaves (to 2.5 inches long). Leaves are a variable gray-green , with dark green along the edges and variably sized light green to silver patches in the middle. Below, the leaves have purplish margins and are sometimes tinged with pink. The leaves climb up surfaces and form a shingle pattern. Leaves are larger when grown in shade.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Green; Pink; White
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small white-green to tan-pink flowers are inconspicuous and rarely appear on indoor plants. When they do appear it is usually late summer to early fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The stems somewhat fleshy and slightly zigzag. They are brownish and root at the nodes when they contact the soil.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
southern China to Malesia
Distribution
Native to Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Himalaya, India, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Introduced: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuelan Antilles