Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

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

Also called maze begonia, miniature rhizomatous begonia.

More about begonia mazae

About Begonia mazae

Begonia mazae · also called maze begonia, miniature rhizomatous begonia · houseplant

Begonia mazae is a compact, trailing rhizomatous species from Mexico with small, glossy bronze-green leaves often marked by a dark central blotch, and pretty pink flowers held on slender stalks. Its creeping, cascading habit makes it ideal for small pots, terrariums, and hanging displays. It stays neat and tolerant given warm, humid, brightly shaded conditions.

Cold limit: USDA 10-11 (indoors in most US and UK homes) · RHS H1B (16-25°C)

What begonia mazae's hardiness rating actually means

Begonia mazae 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 H1c means: Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost. On the US scale that maps to USDA 10-11 (indoors in most US and UK 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 5 °C (and never frost). Begonia mazae has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for begonia mazae as it gets too cold:

Below about about 5 °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 mazae go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 5 °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 mazae can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1c figure above.

Begonia mazae hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is begonia mazae cold hardy?

Begonia mazae 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 mazae can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 10-11 (indoors in most US and UK homes)); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature begonia mazae can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 5 °C (and never frost). Begonia mazae has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

What hardiness zone is begonia mazae?

Begonia mazae is rated USDA 10-11 (indoors in most US and UK homes) and RHS H1c — Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost.

Can begonia mazae survive winter outside?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 5 °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 mazae below its minimum temperature?

Below about about 5 °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.