Shining a Light on Begonia Amphioxus

Got an eye for rare plants? If you have answered “yes”, then Begonia amphioxus is sure to catch your eye. From the shape of its leaves to the color of the dots that adorn those leaves, this Begonia is out of the ordinary. And although you may not find it readily available, it is worth seeking out.  

I love plants, but my goal in collecting them is not typically one of getting to know plants that are rare. I tend to like old-fashioned, familiar plants that take me on a little stroll down memory lane. So when I first came across the very tropical Begonia amphioxus, it did not bowl me over. Upon first look, I got a glimpse of its flurry of leaves with what appeared to be ruddy spots, and I passed it by. But something drew me back, and I held the plant up to the light. In fact, I sort of backlit the plant. That’s when I was completely sold on this rare beauty.

What is Begonia Amphioxus?

The Greek “amphioxus” means “pointed at two ends”. While the “wings” of the increasingly popular Angel Wing Begonias taper to a point at one end, a leaf from Begonia amphioxus forms points at two opposite ends. Thin stems attach to these these leaves, not near a leaf margin on one far end, as they do on the Angel Wings, but quite centrally. The leaves fold and crease slightly, out from this near-central point which seems always to be marked on the topside of the leaf with an extra-prominent pink polka dot.

Leaves of Begonia amphioxus are small when compared to Angel Wing Begonia leaves. Each leaf is slightly scalloped and ever-so-slightly ruffled. Covering the plant in multitudes, with pointed ends showing here, there, and everywhere, these unusual leaves give Begonia amphioxus a lot of “movement”. The plant looks like a flurry of foliage or a mass of butterflies that have their wings opened wide. This plant does not show its foliage in a neat display. But the resulting effect is indeed “neat”… cool and unusual as can be.

At first sight and in any light, one can see ruddy leaf margins and ruddy dots of different sizes on each leaf: Pink Polka Dot Begonia, the common name for Begonia amphioxus, makes sense. But here is where I went from admiring this rare plant to actually loving it: Hold those leaves up to the light, move the plant to get the light to hit it just right, and see how those ruddy dots turn vibrant (a rich crimson-pink) on green leaves that seem to glow from within. Especially in the light, this plant is a sight to behold.

Now that I have my own Begonia amphioxus, I see how attractive it looks when paired with other Begonias. And while I had read tales of this plant’s need for some extra measures of care, this has not yet posed any issue with my plant. My Begonia amphioxus seems to need very little care, in fact. Having gotten it about a month ago, I have placed it where it can experience a bit of humidity and warmth. And although I believe I could have done my plant a service by adding a small amount of diluted liquid fertilizer to its soil each week, I must admit I have not yet done that. This oversight may cause problems for me later, but so far, my plant is looking good.

Does Begonia Amphioxus Flower?

My Begonia amphioxus entered my life at a point when it already was flowering. In this case I agree with what others say about this plant: Its very pale greenish white flowers are not very impressive. They are small and blend in with the plant. But I find that that relieves me from a worry I might otherwise have—how to get my plant to flower. A month in, I still have flowers in place on my plant. If they continue to hold tight, and if new ones bloom, I will be pleased. If not, I will probably not take notice. Begonia amphioxus is definitely a tropical foliage plant… and a rare and appealing one, at that.

Will I begin a rare plants collection? I don’t think so. But I appreciate the unusual form of my Begonia amphioxus, and I think that form contrasts nicely with the forms of other Begonias and other houseplants I have. This plant has caught my eye, for sure. If you are a lover of rare plants, I am convinced it will catch your eye, too.