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Begonia picta - Sm.

Common Name
Family Begoniaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Shady banks and rock ledges in wetter areas, to 2800 metres[51]. Plants are sometimes found at much higher elevations.
Range E. Asia - Himalayas
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade
Begonia picta


Begonia picta

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Begonia picta is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked. An acid flavour[2, 105, 177]. The sour tasting leaf stalks and stems are pickled[272].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anodyne  Ophthalmic  Poultice  Stomachic

The juice of the plant is drunk to relieve headaches[272]. The crushed leaves are used as a poultice on sore nipples[272]. The root juice is used as an eyewash to treat conjunctivitis[272]. It is also consumed in the treatment of peptic ulcers[272].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Mordant

The juice of the plant is used as a mordant to fix the colours of vegetable dyes[272].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained soil[200]. Plants do not require high light intensities[200]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[200]. A tuberous species, it is said to require greenhouse protection in Britain but plants are found at quite high elevations in the Himalayas and these provenances could be hardy in this country[K].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse and keep the compost moist in a light position. The seed can be very slow to germinate, sometimes taking a year or more[134]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division Basal cuttings from tubers in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Xizang Zizhiqu) TROPICAL ASIA: India (Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, West Bengal, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh), Pakistan

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Begonia grandis evansianaHardy BegoniaPerennial1.0 6-9 MLMHSM023
Begonia palmata Perennial0.4 -  LMHSM11 
Saxifraga stoloniferaStrawberry Saxifrage, Creeping Saxifrage, Strawberry Geranium, Strawberry BegoniaPerennial0.2 6-10 MLMHSM222

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Sm.

Botanical References

51200266

Links / References

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