Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

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

Also called lily pad begonia, lotus leaf begonia.

More about begonia nelumbiifolia

About Begonia nelumbiifolia

Begonia nelumbiifolia · also called lily pad begonia, lotus leaf begonia · houseplant

Begonia nelumbiifolia, the lily-pad begonia, is a large rhizomatous species from Mexico and Central America named for its big, round, peltate leaves held on tall stalks like floating lotus pads. Tall sprays of small white-to-pink flowers rise above the foliage in late winter to spring. It makes a bold, architectural houseplant given warmth, humidity, and bright shade.

Cold limit: USDA 10-11 (indoors in most US and UK homes) · RHS H1B (18-26°C)

What begonia nelumbiifolia's hardiness rating actually means

Begonia nelumbiifolia 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 nelumbiifolia has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for begonia nelumbiifolia 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 nelumbiifolia 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 nelumbiifolia can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1c figure above.

Begonia nelumbiifolia hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is begonia nelumbiifolia cold hardy?

Begonia nelumbiifolia 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 nelumbiifolia 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 nelumbiifolia can survive?

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

What hardiness zone is begonia nelumbiifolia?

Begonia nelumbiifolia 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 nelumbiifolia 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 nelumbiifolia 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.