• Image of Begonia hemsleyana|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

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Begonia hemsleyana

Hemsley's Begonia

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 5594

Zones: 7b to 9b

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 12" tall

Culture: Light Shade

Origin: China, Vietnam

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


We have been amazed at the winter hardiness of many of the Chinese begonias, and B. hemsleyana is no exception. This small-growing species from the mountains of Yunnan, China, and into north Vietnam can be found growing in shaded woodlands from 4,000-6,000' elevation. B. hemsleyana is composed of upright, fuzzy, dark red stems to 1' tall, adorned with dark olive-green, red-backed palmate leaves...often speckled white. Each 18" wide clump can be easily tucked in between ferns and other woodland plants for a unique textural contrast. In our climate, B. hemsleyana doesn't emerge until mid-late June.