Bonfire begonia
Begonia boliviensis
Also called Begonia boliviensis, Bonfire begonia and Firecracker begonia
Houseplant · BegoniasIT DIES BACK TO A TUBER EVERY AUTUMN AND THAT IS NOT A LOSS — stop watering, keep the pot dry and frost-free, and start again in spring. Most are thrown away in October by people who think they have killed it.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 5 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 0.4 m tall · 0.5 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Bolivia and Argentina
Is it safe for pets and people?
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: vomiting and drooling in dogs and cats; kidney failure in grazing animals. The part below ground is the most toxic.
The whole plant; the underground parts most of all.
Begonias carry soluble oxalates, concentrated in the tubers. That is documented but is not in either catalogue this bank holds — ASPCA answers only about animals, and the RHS harmful list does not carry Begonia at all.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.