Elephant ear begonia, is a tender, herbaceous perennial and a member of the Begonia (Begoniaceae) family and native to Southern Brazil. It is grown for its hairy, wide leaves and colorful long-lasting pendant clusters of white flowers with red hairs which bloom June through November and are attractive to bees. This plant is typically grown indoors in containers or hanging baskets in moist, well-drained soil under filtered light, but it can take some direct sun in the winter. It will also grow very well in peat-based compost to a mature size of 12 to 18 inches with a similar spread. It is not hardy enough to be grown outdoors above USDA zone 10 (unless you intend to grow the plant as an annual) and it prefers the hot and humid climate of its native southern Brazil. Achieve a bushier form if by pinching back and pruning the outer stems during the growing season. Propagate through division, stem cutting, or seeds. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Sudden temperature change causes leaves to drop. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Begonia .
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded; Weeping
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Attractive foliage with hairy, wide leaves
Flower color
Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Long-lasting pendant clusters of white flowers with red hairs blooming June through November.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem detail
Stems are flexible and zig-zag between the nodes.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Southern Brazil
Attracts
Bees
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Houseplants
Design feature
Accent; Specimen
Garden tags
#heat tolerant #showy flowers #humidity tolerant #white flowers #interiorscape #hairy leaves #hanging baskets #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #frost tender #houseplant #container plant #perennial #problem for children #contact dermatitis
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Heat; Humidity
Propagation
Division; Seed; Stem Cutting
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Roots; Sap/Juice
Poison symptoms
Kidney failure (in grazing animals), vomiting, salivation in dogs/cats. The most toxic part is the underground roots. The sap may cause skin irritation.