Full Specimen Plate
Begonia bipinnatifida
Fern-Leaf Begonia
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Pricing Data Key
Community price estimate based on limited sales history
Market Analysis
Begonia bipinnatifida Price Guide & Auction Value
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No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.
Before You Buy
Species-specific things to check when evaluating a listing
- Check for powdery mildew — a white dusty coating on leaf surfaces, especially in dry conditions; it spreads rapidly between plants
- Inspect for mealybugs at leaf axils and the underside of stems where they hide in white cottony deposits
- Rhizome begonias should show firm, healthy rhizome tissue — avoid plants with soft, discoloured rhizomes
- Most begonias ship well as leaf cuttings — if buying a cutting, ensure it has a healthy petiole and no signs of rot at the cut end
Begonia bipinnatifida Morphology
About Begonia bipinnatifida
Begonia bipinnatifida, described by J.J.Smith, is a rare rhizomatous species from the humid montane and lowland tropical forests of New Guinea, growing in warm, shaded, moist conditions on organic substrate. Its distinction lies entirely in its foliage: the leaves are deeply bipinnatifid — divided and then further divided again into narrow, toothed lobes — producing a feathery, highly dissected silhouette that is almost fern-like and entirely unlike the typical Begonia leaf form. Borne on red petioles from a creeping rhizome with reddish undersides accentuating the delicate lobes, bipinnatifida is one of the more structurally unusual Begonias in collector cultivation. It appeals strongly to those whose interest in the genus extends beyond the typical cane and rex forms into genuine botanical oddity.
Native Range
New Guinea
Propagation Guide
How to Propagate Begonia bipinnatifida
3-5 months
Cultivar character is preserved through vegetative cuttings
Most rhizomatous begonias root readily from leaf sections or petiole cuttings placed on moist substrate. Keep warm and humid until plantlets emerge at leaf margins.
Care Guide
Begonia bipinnatifida Care Guide & Growing Conditions
Light, well-draining mix: 50% perlite, 30% potting compost, 20% orchid bark. Begonias are susceptible to root rot — excellent drainage is essential.
Allow the top half of the substrate to dry between waterings. Water at the base — wet leaves invite fungal problems. Reduce in winter.
50–70%. More tolerant of average indoor humidity than tropical aroids, but consistent moisture prevents crispy leaf margins.
Balanced liquid fertiliser at quarter strength every 2–3 weeks during the growing season. Do not feed in winter.
Every 12–18 months in spring. Begonias like shallow, wide pots that suit rhizomatous growth. Don't bury the rhizome.
Common Problems
Powdery mildew
Poor air circulation combined with high humidity
Improve airflow; avoid wetting leaves; treat with a dilute bicarbonate of soda spray
Botrytis (grey mould)
Overwatering, dead leaves left on plant, poor air circulation
Remove dead foliage promptly; increase airflow; reduce watering
Leggy stems
Insufficient light
Move to a brighter position — begonias need good indirect light to maintain compact growth
New Guinea's Fern Pretender
New Guinea begonias occupy a fairly specialist position — the island produces an astonishing diversity of begonias, not all of which translate willingly into domestic cultivation. Begonia bipinnatifida produces deeply bipinnately cut leaves that look, at a casual glance, more like a maidenhair fern than a begonia — an architectural plant with an unusual growth form and somewhat demanding humidity requirements for humid montane forest conditions. Priced at the upper middle tier for what is genuinely a specialist plant. Worth it for those willing to maintain the environment it requires.
