Begonia amphioxus

Common Names

Polka Dot Begonia, Spotted Begonia

Summary

A rare tropical begonia from Borneo, first described after discovery on a limestone slope in Sabah, it grows upright and bushy to about 6–12 inches tall with 18–24 inch spacing, and features narrow lance-shaped leaves green to burgundy dotted with crimson spots and lightly red-fringed margins, with small purple or white flowers year-round on unisexual blooms and winged capsules, typically grown in terrariums or containers in humid, shaded settings.

Cultivation requires bright indirect light, warmth around 18–26°C, and high humidity (60–80% day, 80–100% night); the plant prefers a well-draining calcareous mix at pH 6.1–7.5 and evenly moist soil kept base-watered, avoiding waterlogging, with heavier summer watering and weekly winter watering; fertilize monthly with a diluted balanced fertilizer, propagate by stem cuttings, prune for bushier growth, and note frost-sensitivity (best indoors in USDA zones 10–12), with potential pests like thrips and diseases such as powdery mildew requiring monitoring.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-18 inches

Spread

18-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 10-12

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-draining, rich soil (loam or peat-based potting mix) with pH 6.1–7.5.

Soil Drainage

Well-draining soil

Soil pH

6.1-7.5

Bloom Color

Purple or white

Bloom Time

All year

Foliage Color

Green with red markings

Fall Foliage Color

Red

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Standard growth rate

Seasons of Interest

All four seasons

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and other pollinators