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Holiday Rex Begonia

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November 27, 2012
The poinsettia may be the quintessential holiday plant, but there are other plants that are just as festive and deserve their own holiday cheer. Today I'm at Natchez Trace Greenhouses where they are growing some of the most striking Rex Begonias, which are perfect for holiday decorations. Rex Begonias are primarily indoor plants known for their colorful and textured foliage. The coarse textured leaves are certainly colorful, with streaks and splashes of silver to cream to burgundy. There is a symmetry to the spiral shape of the leaves which adds to their beauty. Rex Silver Blush has an almost metallic sheen with its silvery edges and bright pink middles. The variety Redington has red tinged green leaves on top with rusty brown bottoms. Rex Iron Cross has medium green leaves with a pebbled and quilted surface. The middle of the leaf features chocolate brown highlights on the center veins. A most unusual selection is Rex Escargot. The foliage has a curling snail-like pattern starting at the base of the leaf. Propagation of Rex Begonia is as interesting as their varied colors. Whole leaves are cut and placed in growing media and new plantlets form at the base of the leaf. Direct sunlight can damage your Rex Begonia, so always place in indirect light for the best growth and performance. I'm Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.

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