This perennial has a short thick ascending rhizome that forms a clumping habit. It has large rounded soft leathery dark green leaves and the white bell-shaped flowers appear in a cluster high above the foliage on a slender stem during late winter.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Begonia nelumbiifoliais naturally found from southern Mexico to central and northern South America growing in the understory of forests and commonly associated with watercourses.

It prefers a semi-shaded to humid sunny wind protected position and grows in organic rich moist fertile soils with a pH 6-7.5 and is frost and drought tender.

The Lily-pad Begonia is grown for its flowers, foliage and clumping habit. It is planted in the understory along borders in small or tropical gardens or used around water features. it is suitable coastal or mountain regions establishing in 2-3 years and is moderately long-lived. This begonia is also grown as a container specimen and in cold climates under glass.ID 3188

Begonia(beh-GON-ee-a) nelumbiifolia(ne-lumb-ee-eye-Foe-lee-a)

Begoniaceae (be-gon-ee-AY-see-ee)