Begonia nigritarum

Philippine Spotted Begonia

Easy careTerrestrialMildly toxic10–20 cm

Widespread across the Philippine islands, Begonia nigritarum is one of the most variable begonias in the region — its dark green, near-round leaves frequently display subtle turquoise spots and vivid red undersides, though colouring varies considerably between island populations. It grows as a low, creeping rhizomatous plant on the shaded forest floor, often in spots that never receive direct sunlight. One of the easier Philippine begonias to keep, it does well in the steady warmth and humidity of a closed terrarium and spreads gradually via surface rhizomes.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Philippine Spotted Begonia image

Photo by tsailw·CC BY-NC $.0

Care

Light

Shade tolerant(preferred)Indirect light

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Very high (80%+)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
10°C – 30°C

Soil

Peat moss(preferred)Well draining

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5 – 7

Appearance

Growth habit

Creeping

Leaf shape

Round

Leaf texture

Smooth

Distribution

Propagation

Remove stem cuttings and root in a moist peat and perlite mix under high humidity. Araflora notes that trimming stems this way also helps maintain the plant's compact rosette form.