Plant Library
11 Types of Begonia: A Complete ID & Care Guide
Identify Rex, Maculata, Iron Cross, wax, cane & tuberous begonias with care signals. All begonias are toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA).
11 Types of Begonia: A Complete ID & Care Guide
Begonia (Begonia spp.) is one of the largest plant genera on Earth, with well over 1,000 species and thousands more hybrids, grown for showy foliage, season-long flowers, or both. For shoppers, the easiest way to make sense of the chaos is to sort begonias into three root groups — fibrous-rooted (including wax and cane types), rhizomatous (Rex, Iron Cross, Beefsteak, Escargot) and tuberous — because the root type tells you how to water, overwinter and propagate the plant.
This guide walks through the begonia types you're most likely to meet at a garden centre or houseplant shop, how to recognise each on sight, and the light and water signals that keep them happy. One caveat applies to every single one: the ASPCA lists begonias as toxic to cats, dogs and horses, so none of them belong within reach of a curious pet.
Match a begonia to your space: Snap your room in Growli — we'll measure the light level and tell you which variety will thrive in your conditions.
Related: Begonia care guide · types of houseplants · pet-safe houseplants
The 11 most common types of begonia
1. Rex Begonia — Begonia rex-cultorum hybrids
Grown for its bold, often metallic or iridescent leaves splashed with silver, purple, pink, red and green; leaves are large, puckered and asymmetrical. Flowers are small and secondary. Technically rhizomatous but classed on its own for foliage.
Care signal: Bright indirect light (no harsh direct sun); keep soil lightly moist, letting the top inch dry slightly. Loves high humidity but dislikes soggy roots. ASPCA: toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
2. Polka Dot / Maculata (Angel Wing) — Begonia maculata 'Wightii'
A cane begonia with thick bamboo-like stems and olive-green, angel-wing-shaped leaves dotted with silver-white spots; flip a leaf for a striking crimson-red underside. Native to Brazilian rainforest.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; let the soil go slightly dry before watering, never soggy. Prefers humidity above ~45%. ASPCA lists this (Metallic Leaf Begonia) as toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
3. Iron Cross / Masoniana — Begonia masoniana
Rhizomatous type with large, oval, rough-textured bright green leaves marked by a dark chocolate-brown, cross-shaped centre resembling the Iron Cross emblem; foliage has a puckered, embossed texture.
Care signal: Bright, filtered indirect light; rhizomes store water, so let the surface nearly dry between waterings. Likes humidity but keep foliage dry to avoid powdery mildew. ASPCA: toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
4. Escargot — Begonia 'Escargot'
A Rex-type rhizomatous hybrid named for its snail-shell spiral at the base of each leaf; the swirl bands silver, green and chocolate around a tight curl. One of the most ornamental foliage begonias.
Care signal: Partial shade / bright indirect light; water when soil is dry to the touch and avoid both sogginess and wilting. Wants high humidity. ASPCA: toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
5. Beefsteak — Begonia x erythrophylla
A rhizomatous hybrid (one of the first, raised in Germany in 1845) with shiny, round, green leaves and a vivid red underside; clouds of small pink flowers on tall stems in late winter to spring.
Care signal: Bright indirect light, no direct summer sun; keep soil lightly moist but not wet. Unusually tolerant of normal household humidity. ASPCA: toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
6. Rhizomatous Begonias (group) — Begonia spp. (rhizomatous)
Grow from thick rhizomes that creep along the soil surface; usually low, 4 in to ~2 ft tall, mounding plants prized for patterned, textured foliage. Includes Rex, Iron Cross, Escargot and Beefsteak.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; the surface rhizome stores water, so let the top of the soil dry before rewatering. Avoid overwatering. ASPCA: toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
7. Wax / Semperflorens — Begonia semperflorens-cultorum (now Begonia cucullata group)
Compact, fibrous-rooted bedding begonias with thick, glossy, waxy rounded leaves (green or bronze) and continuous small white, pink or red flowers. The classic mass-planted annual.
Care signal: Tolerates more sun than other begonias, including some full sun; water when the top inch dries — drought- and heat-hardy once established. ASPCA: toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
8. Cane (Angel Wing) — Begonia coccinea & cane-type hybrids
Tall, fibrous-rooted begonias with straight, unbranched bamboo-like stems and jointed nodes; large angel-wing leaves, often spotted, with pendulous clusters of flowers. Ranges from a couple of feet to over 10 ft.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; let the top inch or two of soil dry between waterings. Stake tall canes and pinch to keep bushy. ASPCA: toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
9. Tuberous — Begonia x tuberhybrida
Grown for large, often double, rose- or camellia-like blooms in vivid colours; foliage is comparatively plain. Grows from a flat tuber that can be lifted and stored to return for years.
Care signal: Bright indirect light / dappled shade; keep evenly moist but never waterlogged, and start tubers in warm soil. ASPCA: toxic to cats, dogs and horses — the tuber (underground part) is the most toxic of all.
10. Mapleleaf Begonia — Begonia heracleifolia
Rhizomatous species begonia with large, deeply lobed, star- or maple-shaped leaves on hairy stalks; clusters of small pink-white flowers held above the foliage on tall stems.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; allow the surface to dry between waterings as with other rhizomatous types. ASPCA lists Mapleleaf Begonia as toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
11. Elephant-Ear / Peace Begonia — Begonia scharffii (syn. B. haageana)
A cane-like / shrub begonia with very large, hairy, olive-green leaves with red undersides and a soft felted texture; pinkish-white flowers. Sometimes sold as Elephant-Ear or Peace Begonia.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water when the top inch of soil dries, avoiding wet leaves. Enjoys warmth and humidity. ASPCA lists Elephant-Ear Begonia and Peace Begonia as toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Are begonia toxic to cats and dogs?
All begonias are toxic to pets — there is no pet-safe begonia in this group. The ASPCA lists Begonia spp. (family Begoniaceae) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with the toxic principle being soluble calcium oxalates. Reported clinical signs are intense burning/irritation of the mouth, vomiting and salivation in dogs and cats, and kidney failure in grazing animals such as horses. The ASPCA specifically notes that "the most toxic part is underground" — meaning the tubers, rhizomes and roots carry the highest oxalate load, so tuberous and rhizomatous types are a particular concern if a pet digs.
Because the toxicity is genus-wide, the per-type breakdown is straightforward — every variety in this guide is toxic:
- Toxic (all of them): Rex, Maculata / Polka Dot (listed by ASPCA as Metallic Leaf Begonia), Iron Cross / Masoniana, Escargot, Beefsteak, wax / semperflorens, cane / angel wing, tuberous, Mapleleaf (B. heracleifolia), and Elephant-Ear / Peace Begonia (B. scharffii) — all flagged toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
- Pet-safe: none.
Keep all begonias out of reach of pets, and contact a vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) if ingestion is suspected.
Frequently asked questions
Are begonias poisonous to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists Begonia spp. as toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The toxic principle is soluble calcium oxalates, which can cause oral burning and irritation, vomiting and drooling in cats and dogs, and kidney failure in grazing animals. The ASPCA notes the underground parts (tubers and rhizomes) are the most toxic, so keep begonias out of reach and call a vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 if your pet chews one.
What are the three main types of begonia?
Begonias are usually grouped by root type: fibrous-rooted (including wax/semperflorens and cane/angel-wing begonias), rhizomatous (Rex, Iron Cross, Beefsteak and Escargot) and tuberous (the big-flowered Begonia x tuberhybrida). Knowing the root group is the practical key to care, because it tells you how to water, overwinter and propagate the plant.
What is the difference between a Rex begonia and a regular begonia?
Rex begonias are technically rhizomatous but are grown almost entirely for their dramatic, colourful, often metallic foliage rather than flowers, and they demand more humidity than most. Wax and cane begonias, by contrast, are fibrous-rooted and grown largely for continuous flowers. Iron Cross and Escargot are also Rex-adjacent rhizomatous foliage types.
Which begonia is easiest for beginners?
Wax (semperflorens) begonias are the most forgiving: they tolerate more sun, shrug off heat, flower nonstop and need little attention once established. Beefsteak begonia is another easy choice indoors because, unusually, it tolerates ordinary household humidity. Rex and Iron Cross types are more demanding because they want consistently high humidity.
Are polka dot begonia and angel wing begonia the same plant?
The polka dot begonia (Begonia maculata 'Wightii') is a cane-type begonia, and cane begonias are the group often called angel wing begonias because of their wing-shaped leaves. So polka dot is a specific, silver-spotted member of the broader angel wing / cane group rather than a separate category. Both are toxic to pets per the ASPCA.
Do tuberous begonias come back every year?
They can. Tuberous begonias are perennial if the tubers are lifted before frost and stored correctly in a cool, dry place over winter, after which they can return for several years. In frost-free regions they may stay in the ground. Their tubers are also the most toxic part of the plant to pets.
What kind of light do indoor begonias need?
Most foliage begonias — Rex, Iron Cross, Escargot, Beefsteak and cane types — want bright but indirect light and dislike harsh direct sun, which can scorch the leaves. Wax begonias are the exception and tolerate more sun, including some full sun outdoors. Across the board, let the top inch of soil dry slightly before watering and avoid soggy roots.