Angel Wing begonia

To grow an Angel Wing begonia, give it bright, indirect light, such as an east or west window, and keep it out of hot midday sun. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, at the base of the plant, and empty the saucer after 15 minutes. Keep rooms at 60 to 75°F (16 to 24°C) with 40 to 60% humidity. Feed it once a month from April to October with a diluted balanced fertilizer. Pinch the tips to keep it bushy, and root the cuttings to make new plants.

Angel Wing begonias suit you if you have a bright room and want a houseplant that flowers on and off for much of the year. Outdoors, they need USDA zones 10 and 11 to live year-round, per NC State Extension, so most gardeners move them inside for winter. They carry a low toxicity risk for cats and dogs, so keep them out of reach of pets that chew plants.

Angel Wing begonias are hybrid cane begonia plants with pointed ornamental leaves and fibrous root systems. These tropical plants are named after the shape of their leaves, which truly are in the form of an elongated angel’s wing. There are many different cultivars of Angel Wing begonias, including in a variety of foliage and flower colors. These low-maintenance plants can grow vigorously outdoors or as a houseplant, particularly when staked.

Angel Wing begonia basics

Angel Wing begonia is a hybrid type of begonia plant first bred from a cross between Begonia aconitifolia from Brazil and Begonia coccinea ‘Lucerna’, per the Chicago Botanic Garden. Angel Wing begonias are a type of cane begonia, known for their bamboo-like stems. Cane-type begonias like Angel Wing Begonia have fibrous root systems (not tuberous roots). The breeder was Eva Kenworthy Gray, an amateur hybridizer in California, in 1926.

Angel Wing begonia plants are grown as ornamentals, both indoors as houseplants and outdoors as tender groundcovers. The leaves are how they got their name because they look like angel wings. The flowers that droop down and grow in the center can also be many different colors. They can be pink, orange, red, white, or yellow, but the most common color is a bright, vibrant pink. For a similar look in a bedding plant, see our guide to Dragon Wing begonias.

The leaves are the main show. The Chicago Botanic Garden describes them as folded and winglike, often speckled, polka-dotted, banded, or splotched, sometimes in metallic silver, with a contrasting color on the underside. Silver spots on green leaves with red undersides are the classic look.

How to care for Angel Wing begonia

All plants need the basics of soil, water, and sunlight. But, the Angel Wing begonia likes those in moderate amounts. For instance, direct sunlight for this plant is too harsh, so the Angel Wing begonia likes only indirect sunlight.

This plant likes to be planted in the spring but can be grown all year round. The Angel Wing begonia is low maintenance, and forgetting to water it for a couple of days won’t kill it. It is perfect for indoor use because it doesn’t like the bright sunlight directly on it, but loves when it brightens a room through windows. If you don’t have a green thumb, this plant may be perfect for you.

Lighting requirements for Angel Wing begonia

If you are growing this plant indoors, then it is generally easy to give it indirect sunlight. The Chicago Botanic Garden recommends a bright east or west window, since bright light deepens the leaf color and helps it flower. In winter, NYBG suggests moving it closer to a west or south window for a few hours of direct sun. You can place your plant in rooms that get lots of bright natural light, while keeping it out of direct sunbeams. In homes without much natural light, consider supplemental lighting with a little plant light.

If you are growing this plant outside, use a part of your garden that gets partial shade to avoid leaf scorch. Bring it inside before nights drop below 60°F (16°C). Indoors, it does best at 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C) during the day and no cooler than 60°F (16°C) at night.

Watering Angel Wing begonia

NYBG advises watering when the top inch of soil feels dry, in the morning, with room-temperature water. Empty the saucer after 15 minutes so the roots do not sit in water. Let the soil stay a little drier in winter, but do not let it dry out all the way. Begonia plants like Angel Wing do like moist soil, but the soil shouldn’t be muddy or ponded in the bottom of the pot.

When watering the Angel Wing Begonia, do not water from above and get the leaves wet. This can lead to fungal issues because it becomes a ground base for fungus to grow. So, water it at the base of the plant, right on top of the soil. That way you can avoid any issues with fungus later.

Fertilizing Angel Wing begonia plants

Angel Wing Begonia plants grown in containers require feeding with plant fertilizer as they are isolated from their natural ecosystem. The Chicago Botanic Garden suggests a diluted 20-20-20 fertilizer once a month from April to October. Feeding more often than that leads to tall, caney growth.

Humidity for Angel Wing begonias

Angel Wing Begonias tend not to thrive in dry indoor air. NYBG recommends 40 to 60% relative humidity and warns that above 60% the plants can rot. The most effective way to raise humidity levels is with an area humidifier. Keep air moving around the plant so the leaves dry.

Pruning and propagating Angel Wing begonias

Angel Wing begonias grow fast and get leggy without pruning. NYBG notes that cane begonias can reach 6 feet (1.8 m) if left alone. When a young plant is 6 inches (15 cm) tall, pinch out the top shoot, per the Chicago Botanic Garden. Side shoots appear in a few weeks.

On older plants, remove a few of the oldest, woody canes in early spring, just as new growth starts. Cut them back to four or five nodes, just above an outward-facing bud. Pull off dead leaves and stems when you see them. This keeps the plant bushy rather than leggy and spread apart.

To propagate your Angel Wing begonia, keep the tips you prune. Take a 3 to 4 inch (8 to 10 cm) tip cutting with two sets of leaves in spring or summer. Remove the lower set, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and plant it in moist vermiculite or perlite. Cover it with clear plastic to hold in humidity. The Chicago Botanic Garden suggests starting fresh plants this way once an old plant loses vigor, after five or six years.

Common questions about Angel Wing begonias

Here are some frequently asked questions about Angel Wing begonias:

Is Angel Wing begonia a tuberous begonia?

Angel Wing Begonia is not a tuberous begonia. Angel Wing Begonia plants have fibrous root systems made up of a web of thin roots (not thick tuber roots). Angel Wing Begonias are a type of hybrid cane begonia, which all have fibrous root systems.

Do Angel Wing begonias like the sun?

Angel Wing Begonia plants like indirect sunlight, but can be damaged when grown in full sun. While the plants need bright light from the sun (or a plant light) to thrive, the tender foliage is easily sunburnt by direct beams of sunlight. Angel Wing Begonia plants grow best in locations with bright indirect light. Try to avoid placing your plant where the leaves could receive harsh direct sunlight. Sunlight is typically harshest during mid-day and into the afternoon.

Should I mist my Angel Wing begonia?

Angel Wing Begonia plants do not need to be misted. Some houseplant owners like to mist their plants to increase humidity around the plant, but the effect on the humidity is quite short-lived. If low humidity is affecting your Angel Wing Begonia, a more effective solution is to raise the humidity of the whole room with an area humidifier. Leaves that stay wet, along with poor air circulation, encourage botrytis and powdery mildew, per NYBG.

Is Angel Wing begonia toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes, but the risk is low. NC State Extension lists calcium oxalate crystals as the toxic part, with the roots holding the most. Eating it can cause vomiting and drooling in dogs and cats, and the sap can irritate skin.

How big do Angel Wing begonias get?

Most stay 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) tall and 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) wide, per NC State. Unpruned canes can reach 6 feet (1.8 m).

Why are my Angel Wing begonia leaves falling off?

Leaf drop is a stress sign. NYBG points to cold drafts, heat vents, or a change in care. Soft, pale, floppy leaves most often mean too much water or a pot that does not drain.

References

• Chicago Botanic Garden, Begonias, angel-wing
• New York Botanical Garden, Cane-type begonia houseplant care
• NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, Begonia cane types