Full Specimen Plate
Begonia listada
Striped Begonia
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Market Analysis
Begonia listada 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 listada Morphology
About Begonia listada
Begonia listada, described by L.B.Smith and Wasshausen, is a compact rhizomatous species from the moist forest habitats of southeastern Brazil, growing in shaded understory conditions on humus-rich substrate with high humidity and even moisture. The leaves are its distinguishing feature: asymmetrical, velvety blades with a bright green median stripe running the full length of each leaf against an otherwise near-black to very dark green surrounding lamina — a naturally occurring bicolour effect that no cultivation or selection has produced, but that the species simply is. Vivid red undersides complete the contrast. A short surface rhizome creeps gradually, building a compact clump of ornamental foliage that is unusually effective in terrariums and enclosed high-humidity displays.
Native Range
Brazil
Propagation Guide
How to Propagate Begonia listada
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 listada 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
A Reliable Gateway Drug
Begonia listada is a compact cane begonia from southeastern Brazil with a distinctive two-tone leaf pattern — a pale green mid-rib stripe on a darker ground that photographs well and performs equally well in situ. Listada simply means 'striped.' Widely available, inexpensive, unfussy by begonia standards, cheerful in a bright window. The kind of plant that convinces people to start a begonia collection and then discover, approximately eighteen months later, that they are spending significant sums on Bornean limestone specialists. Begonia listada is responsible for many horticultural rabbit holes. I say this approvingly.
Also in: Natural Silver & Spot Patterning
Wild species carrying naturally occurring leaf spotting or striping, distinct from the chimeric variegation seen in cultivated colour-break forms.
