Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Begonia conchifolia (Begonia conchifolia)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called shell begonia, conchifolia begonia, little shell begonia.

More about begonia conchifolia

About Begonia conchifolia

Begonia conchifolia · also called shell begonia, conchifolia begonia · houseplant

Begonia conchifolia is a compact Central American species grown for its small, cupped, shell-shaped leaves with a red spot where the petiole joins. A rhizomatous begonia, it stays low and bushy, sends up sprays of small white-to-pink flowers, and thrives in bright indirect light with even moisture and warm, humid conditions indoors.

Cold limit: USDA 10-11 (indoor in most US homes) · RHS H1b (18-27°C)

Watch for — Brown crispy leaf edges: Low humidity or dry air near heaters; raise humidity with a pebble tray and keep away from radiators and cold drafts.

What begonia conchifolia's hardiness rating actually means

Begonia conchifolia is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Its RHS rating of H1b means: Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season. On the US scale that maps to USDA 10-11 (indoor in most US homes) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 10 °C (sustained cold below this is damaging). Begonia conchifolia has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for begonia conchifolia as it gets too cold:

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches.
A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover.
Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.

Can begonia conchifolia go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually.
Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C.
It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when begonia conchifolia can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1b figure above.

Begonia conchifolia hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is begonia conchifolia cold hardy?

Begonia conchifolia is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Indoor-only in almost every home. Begonia conchifolia can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 10-11 (indoor in most US homes)); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature begonia conchifolia can survive?

What hardiness zone is begonia conchifolia?

Begonia conchifolia is rated USDA 10-11 (indoor in most US homes) and RHS H1b — Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season.

Can begonia conchifolia survive winter outside?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually. Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C. It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

What happens to begonia conchifolia below its minimum temperature?

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches. A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover. Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.