Begonia 'Ginny Galaxy', Rare & In-Demand

The holidays acquaint us with merchandise being sold at a variety of price points. Take the small plastic-brick construction kits loved by young and old—they run from around $10 for a simple kit to $500 or more for a collector’s kit. Does an expensive kit ensure more fun for the builder? No. But collectors do love to collect. They have a set of specific criteria for purchase. They have reasons behind buying what they do.

So, in the world of gardeners and houseplant lovers, what is an acceptable cost for a rare and desirable (collectible) plant? To answer that, we must ask for the criteria that are kept in mind by those at the “checkout counter”. 

I myself have spent a pretty penny on expensive seeds—SEEDS—that promised to grow heritage plants I wanted. Criterion for purchase: They had a history. Some made good on their promise of growing into the future; some did not. The potential reward was worth the risk of purchasing those seeds, and I was rewarded with some growth. I have also bought potted plants from a grower with a storied past and great cachet. The high price tags on those were worth it for me. Criterion for purchase: They had a rich story. And I have spent upwards of $100 per plant on sizable floor plants—tall beauties with fullness and decorator’s appeal. These were plants that entered the house almost like furniture would, but that’s what I wanted. Criterion for purchase: They were large and full.

So, what about rare plants? I have just become acquainted with Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’, and a brief introduction to this plant caused me to dig for more information on it. In a search online, Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’ is, in most places I could see, sold out. This plant that has very noticeable variegation, over time developing streaks of yellow-cream, pink, and attractive green. Online descriptions never failed to mention this plant’s good looks. But while the descriptions were still viewable in anticipation of new stock becoming available, purchasing in-the-moment seems challenging, as sell-outs have already occurred.

On sites where Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’ was or still is available, “her” price tag seems to run from formidable to WOWZA. I saw prices of $100, $200, and one price that had to have been a typo, it was so high. And plant collectors don’t mind.

So, who exactly is this Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’—or said more normally, how is it that this rare plant is in such demand?

Well, Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’ is rare, not seen everywhere. If you’re struggling to get a gift for the proverbial “plant lover who has everything”, chances are, he or she will not yet have Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’. 

Also, some plant collectors equate persnickety plants with special, collectible ones—this is the case with the Orchid grower who struggles to maintain the right conditions for optimal growth of rare Orchids, not satisfied with the easier-to-grow Phalaenopsis Orchids. But many plant collectors are like the rest of us in appreciating easy-to-grow plants. Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’ needs bright indirect light and very high (some say 80%) humidity. Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’ contains oxalates, so owners must keep pets away from it. But beyond needing to feed it from time to time, this plant is manageable in terms of care. So if two purchase criteria are 1) it is rare, and 2) its care is straightforward, well… we’re off to the races. And perhaps the most important “draw” when it comes to this plant: Those who maintain it, even though they are caring for a fairly easy plant, have a camaraderie that it is exciting. They chat, they confer…, they seem to be part of an unofficial club, growing this plant for pleasure and sport.

I personally cannot photograph an at-home display with Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’ in it. I cannot give firsthand details about what has gone well or poorly in acclimating it to my own home…. The reason: I do not yet have this plant, and I am not yet part of the “plant club” that does have it. But if I consider the plant lovers in my life, I know I might want to purchase it for one of them. I love its looks. I like what I know about it.

I would say that Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’ is not the plant to buy for a person who simply likes plants. In that case, Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’ might be wasted, no matter how nice the person or the plant is. No…, this is a plant for a collector who will truly appreciate its unusual variegation, its attractive coloration, its leaf shape (criterion for purchase, good looks)…. You might know one of those collectors. I think I know one. And maybe, just maybe, it will be worth it for us to find a way to get them to know Begonia ‘Ginny Galaxy’.