PlantFiles: Pennywort Begonia, Miniature Pond Lily
Begonia hydrocotylifolia

I included my location in Maryland on the successful growing areas but wanted to make it clear that this plant is brought in before it gets too cold outside. It used to spend the summer days in a bright area outside but this last year we just kept it in at a bright window.

B. hydrocotylifolia was discovered in Mexico in 1841 and is a rhizomatous begonia with a short thick succulent and creeping rhizome.

A small leaved species with leaves reaching 3 by 2 1 /2 inches. Leaves are thick and leathery, dark green in color, with splotching in lighter green on the edges. The back side of the leaf is light red. The brownish green petioles are 1 1/2 to 3 inches long and keep the plant compact.

Flowers are small and light pink, blooming in the winter to early spring.

B. hydrocotylifolia is the seed parent to the popular B. 'Erythrophylla'

I've been having this plant for going on 10 years. It was given to me by a neighbor. It's in a very large pot so I leave it out for the winter. It's freezes back in the cold then comes back and blooms beautifully as ever in spring. By late summer it is lush and full.

i received rhizome cuttings of this beautiful cultivar as a gift, in the dead of a very cold winter. it took very fast to its potting soil and is a vigorous and beautiful grower.