Full Specimen Plate
Begonia venosa
Veined Begonia
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Pricing Data Key
Community price estimate based on limited sales history
Market Analysis
Begonia venosa 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 venosa Morphology
About Begonia venosa
Begonia venosa, described by Skan, is a distinctive compact species from rocky Brazilian habitats — growing in bright filtered to light shade on well-drained mineral and organic substrate, with seasonal moisture and good air movement. It is among the most xerophytic of cultivated begonias: thick, succulent-textured leaves are densely coated in fine white hairs that give the entire plant a silvery-grey felted appearance entirely unlike the lush tropical begonias of the forest floor. Stout petioles and the low, compact clumping habit from a short creeping base reflect the plant's adaptation to the seasonal dry periods of its rocky Brazilian habitat. Venosa appeals to the collector who has moved through the standard cane and rex forms and is now looking for something genuinely different — a begonia with the presence of a succulent and the foliage interest of a specialist species.
Native Range
Brazil
Propagation Guide
How to Propagate Begonia venosa
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 venosa 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
The Succulent Exception
A Brazilian succulent begonia — a genuinely rare category within the genus — that grows on rocky, sharply drained substrates and tolerates considerable drought between waterings. The leaves are covered in white scurfy hairs that give a frosted, almost silver appearance, and the petioles are stout and water-storing. An oddity among begonias: entirely unlike the forest-floor humidity lovers that dominate collector culture. Useful for the collector who tends to forget to water, which is presumably a larger demographic than they admit at plant shows. An interesting botanical footnote to an otherwise consistently moisture-demanding genus.
