Full Specimen Plate
Begonia ferox
Fierce Begonia
Aroid Atlas Price Guide
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Pricing Data Key
Community price estimate based on limited sales history
Market Analysis
Begonia ferox Price Guide & Auction Value
Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.
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 ferox Morphology
About Begonia ferox
Begonia ferox, described by C.-I.Peng and Yan Liu., is a limestone forest endemic from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China — typically found in shaded karst habitats at low to mid elevations, growing on moist, humus-rich calcareous soil and in crevices of limestone rock. The name 'ferox' (fierce) refers to the plant's most distinctive feature: the upper surface of each thick, heavily bullate leaf is covered with numerous dark conical bullae — hard, spine-like projections rising from the raised surface texture in a pattern resembling armour or reptile scales. The upper surface is deep green with prominent venation; undersides are maroon to burgundy. Short, densely spiny petioles complete the effect. Ferox has become one of the most sought-after collector Begonias since its description in 2015, and remains difficult to obtain in the UK market.
Native Range
China
Propagation Guide
How to Propagate Begonia ferox
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 ferox 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
Spine-Covered Excellence from Guangxi
Formally described in 2015 by botanists working on Guangxi's karst limestone flora, Begonia ferox is one of the more distinctive begonias in cultivation. The upper surface of the leaves is covered in dense, erect, dark hair-like growths — technically called glandular trichomes or spinescent emergences — that create a surface texture more reminiscent of a cactus than a begonia. In the right light it reads as three-dimensional, almost furry, and entirely unlike anything else in the genus. The price tier reflects genuine scarcity and genuine demand from collectors who understand what they are looking at.
Also in: Iron-Cross & Bullate
Species with a raised, quilted leaf surface, including B. masoniana's namesake dark iron-cross marking.
