Begonia acutifolia
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Begonia acutifolia

Cuban begonia

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: partial_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 10–12
Click count
13
Observations
23

Description

Source: leafsnap

Begonia acutifolia, the holly-leaf begonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to Cuba and Jamaica, and introduced to Saint Helena. Shade tolerant, it is kept as a house plant, or outside in USDA hardiness zone 9b or warmer.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Partial sun

Holly-leaf begonia is native to habitats like forest understories or rocky sites, where it grows in natural shade. It prefers partial sun but can tolerate full sun or deep shade, showing its versatile, hardy character.

Ideal: Partial sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Holly-leaf begonia comes from tropical areas, where the climate is typically warm and humid. As a result, it is well suited to high temperatures and humidity. It does not tolerate sudden temperature changes well and prefers a steady temperature, so avoiding fluctuations indoors is important. It generally cannot withstand cold and needs warmer temperatures to grow. If the environmental temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

Appropriate fertilization is vital for the Holly-leaf begonia's health and appearance. Feed the Holly-leaf begonia in summer, repeating the feeding monthly throughout the season. Nutrients power growth and help maintain the plant's tissues. Fertilizing improves the Holly-leaf begonia's flower display, helping it achieve its best blooms.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Begonia
Family
Begoniaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-12
Mature Height
30 cm to 61 cm
Mature Spread
30 cm to 46 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
Pink, White
Flower Size
2.03 cm to 3.05 cm
Bloom Time
All year round
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
All year round
Native Area
Cuba, Jamaica

Tags (6)

Common Names (1)

en Cuban begonia