Begonia cucullata

Common Name: wax begonia

Family: Begoniaceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: NA

Growth Habit: Perennial herb

Origin: Brazil and Argentina

FISC Category: 2

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: Earliest Florida specimen vouchered in 1910

IFAS Assessment:

• North: CAUTION
• Central: CAUTION
• South: CAUTION

Description

Succulent, glabrous, perennial herb with reddish-green jointed stems to 50 cm tall. Roots from the nodes. Leaves alternate, stalked, simple, waxy to 7 cm long and wide, ovate, margins with minute teeth. Flowers showy to 2 cm, in stalked clusters, tepals variable colors. Fruit a 3-winged capsule with one larger wing to 1 cm.

Habitat

Hammocks, upland hardwood forest

Comments

Prolific seed producer.

Control Methods

• Manual: Mechanical: Hand pull seedlings (IFAS, CAIP and FWC)
• Chemical: Foliar (1% glyphosate). [IFAS, CAIP, FWC]
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants and FWC. 2014. Florida Invasive Plant Education Initiative in the Parks: Begonia cucullata. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/parks/begonia.html. Accessed on June 26, 2014.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.