Hardy begonia
Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana
Also called Evans begonia
Houseplant · BegoniasIt dies down to nothing in autumn and comes back late — often not until June — which is when most of them are dug up by mistake. Mark where it is before the leaves go.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 8 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Partial shade — it scorches in sun
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — an average winter RHS H4, to -10°C
- Size
- 0.4 m tall · 0.4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- China and Japan
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-05.
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.
First signs of trouble
- Nothing shows above ground until late May or June — long after everything round it is up — and that is when the fork goes through it.Dug up in spring · disorder
- Small round beads form in the leaf joints in autumn, drop, and come up as seedlings the next year all round the clump.Bulbils everywhere · disorder