Name: Begonia ricinifolia ‘Immense’ aka the Immense Begonia
Type of Plant: Large (yes, the name is accurate) begonia that has interesting hairy stems and clusters of pink flowers in the middle of the winter.
Why I Love/Hate this plant: Large, bright green leaves, strong growth and lots of flowers from January through March…that alone would be enough to make this a great houseplant. But best of all are the red hair-like clumps on the stems. These almost look prickly from a distance but they are actually quite soft. When this plant is in an eastern or western facing window those red hairs light up in the sunshine, so every day the begonia will make you smile.
A Word to the Wise: Most begonias hate being too wet – they are prone to crown rot when the soil is too damp.
My friend Chris Hestwood gave me a small plant from her begonia – this is an easy one to root from a stem or leaf, so a nice pass-along plant for others. Once it gets too, too large, however, root a new one for yourself and start over.
All winter there are several tall stems of pink flowers on this plant.
My Immense Begonia is in an eastern-facing window so in the early morning the sun illuminates the stems, leaves and flowers. See how the stems look hairy?
This shows the closeup of the hairs on the stems when the sun isn’t illuminating them. A plant dressed for a party.
where did you get yours?
I got mine from a friend. If you’re in the USA you can order from here: http://www.glasshouseworks.com/begonia-immense-hyb
Note – I have not ordered from them in the past so I am not endorsing this business…but a quick Google search showed me that they carry this plant and send by mail.
unfortunately i’m in california and they want around $40 for shipping alone to send to california. it’s ridiculous. evidently, this is their policy for the entire west coast and nevada – only 3 day ups air shipping. the plant itself is only $12. i might have to just wait until spring when more things are for sale and maybe i’ll catch it on etsy or ebay. thx.
I have lots of plants and sell their clippings for around $10-$30 depending your location, shipping is included 2 day plat rate priority USPS
I would like to buy this plant please advise
I do not sell plants, Diane. You’ll have to google it and look on places like Etsy.
I think I have a similar Begonia. I have noticed the bottom leaves leaves are pointing down and turning yellow. What is wrong with it? Thanks.
Gail – this begonia regularly sheds oldest, lower leaves and they yellow and fall away. No worries unless the entire plant is turning yellow. If the top foliage looks green it’s behaving normally.
C.L.
I bought a one-gallon of this begonia at Green Acres Nursery in N. California for $9.
Enjoy!
I have two. The momma and her baby. Both in 14” ceramic pots and almost 30 years old. They take up quite a footprint in our house but I love it. Momma has never bloomed and baby gets one pink flower stalk once a year. I’m glad to know the name and the lighting. I think I also overwater. I had gotten from a friend and love to propagate and give away too. Thank you for sharing this article. Very helpful!
I always use Schultz instant plant food mine is 15 years old I regularly start a new plant from a leaf It just gets too big I love it!! Enjoy and be patient
I am pretty sure I have 2 of these. I is the baby of the other. The blossom is pink on a long stem. I was calling it a Rex begonia for 20 years but I guess I was informed wrong. I live in Sanford , FL. It is is in an area that has light frosts usually.
I have three of these from a garage sale. One has 5 stalks of flowers, none on the others. The stems grow sideways and are way out of the pot. When the dirt dries a bit, they fall over. Is there a way to make them grow straight up or is it a losing battle. They are so big they are taking over the room. Can they be put in the ground outside? They put out a lot of seeds. Will the seeds survive the winter in Indiana?
Kate,
This is definitely a houseplant that takes management! Not hardy outside. When the stems get too long and crazy (as they will) cut off the top 6 to 8 inches and coat it with rooting powder, and plant that piece in a pot of fresh, moist potting soil. Keep it out of direct sun while it roots and you’ll have a shorter, tidier plant for a while. You can combine two or three of these stems in a larger pot if desired. Use clay pots for weight so they don’t tip.
I have seen this plant grow to about five foot. Cannot remember how old. It was in an antique store in Colorado. I finally got some leaves to root and just love it. Trying to figure out how to place support for the leaves so they will maintain balance. Love this beautiful plant.
Jan,
Yes, I can see that if left to grow unchecked that this plant could get 5 feet tall or more! I don’t let mine go for too long that way. Once the stems extend beyond 18″ the plant is a bit too “sprawlly” (not that this is a word) for my house. At that point I cut off a 6″ piece from the ends, use rooting hormone and root that to make a new plant. Sometimes I’ll put two or more cuttings in one pot and it looks pretty full for awhile before it starts to do its funky-stem-sprawl again.
Would you be able to recommend a good how-to book for the Begonia Immense? I have one and I cannot find anywhere that gives good info for pruning. It finished flowering a couple of months ago and I cannot find anywhere that discusses how to prune after flowering. Do I cut off the whole flower stems or cut them back, or leave them be?
I don’t know of a book about this plant. Check in with my blog in the months to come – I may post something. In the meantimes, cut flower stems all the way back.
I ought this begonia last July and brought it inside for the Winter. It did fine inside but little growth. I put it on my screened porch for the summer and it loves it and is enormous. I’m bringing it in now for transition but don’t know if I need to prune it. It’s big but stems and leaves are healthy. It did not bloom. What should I do?
Only remove dead or damaged leaves. It’s called “Immense” for a reason – don’t try and make it smaller. They come into bloom indoors in the winter. Place it in an Eastern or western facing window.
The main root is exposed with smaller roots in the ground. You can cut them, and make an instant new plant! I just found out about cutting this rhizome root while trying with my beefsteak begonia which actually puts out a more prolific bloom in white.
I have this plant. I wish I could post photos.
Hi – thank god i found someone who has the same plant as mine! I got this as a gift from a friend about 2 year ago – it was doing okay till I re-potted the plant 🙁 Now the stem of my begonia is turning brown and is soft with its leaves falling off (there is only one remaining 🙁 ) I would love it if you could give me some tips to save this plant!
It might just be suffering from the repotting – but it might also be rot from overwatering. You might be able to save it by cutting off the leaf and putting the LEAF into new, fresh soil after dusting the bottom of that leaf and a bit of the stem that’s on it with rooting hormone. Put that in moist soil but not really wet – place in a bright location but not direct sun, and see if it roots.
They like to be pot bound and don’t water until mostly dry. DO NOT OVER WATER. I love mine. I’ve had it for 18 years. I love rooting the plant in water and then potting them up and giving them to friends.
Happy growing
Bonnie
Reading about it on line and in my southern living Garden Book I guess I just got lucky leaving in the ground and watering it and fertilizing it with a bloom fertilizer that I use on the other spring plants. I am going to try one in a pot, but it says not to overwater because it will probably cause root rot!
All begonias can be prone to root or crown rot, but I’ve never had an issue with my potted ones by watering once a week.
I think my begonia is developing root rot. Can I dig it out, cut off the soft dying stem and re-plant?
Tip it out of the pot, knock off old soil, cut off black stems and roots, and repot in new, fresh soil in a clean pot.
Hello, help! My Immense is well over 20 years old. In a 10″ pot. not doing well for about a year now. It does flower. The leaves are very small they droop and some fall off. Right now there are about 50 new leaves but they never grow to any size. ( they were plate size at one time). I will re-pot the plant but should I use a 12″ pot? What type of fertilizer is best? It is also reaching for light even though it is in a small east facing window. Do I need to rinse the plant of any toxins before I repot?
I’d put it in a 14″ pot, and wash as much of the old soil off as possible without hurting the roots before potting it up. You could put a tablespoon of time-release fertilizer such as Osmocote in the potting soil (mixed in through the soil) when you pot it up. I think you’ll see some “immense” growth this winter? 😉
Great info here! I got my “Immense” by propagation during a propagation course at Purdue University long ago. It is huge and is actually three plants in one pot now. At my former home it struggled and when I moved into my current home I purchased new plants and with them came fungus gnats. I treated that problem by covering the tops of my plants with sand to prevent the insects from entering or exiting the soil, which was very effective, but I had to modify the watering schedule as the sand held moisture. The begonia became lush and very happy. We’ll see if it blooms this winter.
Where can I buy A Immense Begonia?
I don’t know, Kathy. You might Google it.
Is this a rhizome begonia?
Yes
I have one of these and it is HUGE. It was my grandmother’s plant and it fascinated me as a little kid. She died in 1955 and our family all has its ‘children’. Same plant, very old.
Thanks for the article, very helpful!
I too love begonia immense. I had several before we moved to a new state. Now, in the Evanston and Chicago area I can’t find to buy. Our kids have pretty much killed theirs. Any suggestions as to where I can buy?
Barb,
Right now the only one I see for sale online is over $90.00, which is ridiculous! It has been offered by people on Etsy in the past, so check there every month to see if anyone is selling it again.
Any chance I could get a start from the begonia immense? I’ll pay up front. I had a huge one years ago but once I retired and moved itfrom the police departments location to home it slowly died. I gave so many starts away but the individuals were just random citizens I did not know. I have no way to contact any of those people.
Sharon – I renovated my Immense Begonia last summer, cutting off the tops and rooting those into a new pot. So they are just recovering. I will keep you in mind, however, and may root some starts in a couple of months. If I have one to send you, I’ll text you about it. (I’ve saved your number but removed it from your post so it’s not available to the entire world.)
Hi, this plant has been in my family for at least six generations. Cutting have been passed down my mothers side of the family since they live in Nova Scotia. One of my great grand mothers was from the French islands off the coast of Nova Scotia – St. Pierre and Miquelon islands. I wonder if she brought the plant with here from France because someone must have cared for the plant or else the rough travel of the day would have killed most plants. Either way, many womyn on my mothers side pass this plant down to other family member but as far as we know, I am the first male. I like plants, it doesn’t feel like home to me without my plants.
I tried using a plant ID app and it just said “begonia”, which wasn’t very helpful. Today my mother came across the name “ricinifolia emence” she had written on a scrap piece of paper and as soon as I searched online for it, I found our family plant.
For any Canadians out there, since people seem to be looking for cuttings, I’ll get some root starter and get growing. Sorry Americans, no idea the shipping issues with plants across the border.
I have this Beginia as well. It is beautiful and gorgeous! It only blooms when it gets enough light – mine is in a southern facing window. I have noticed odd behavior though. It’s blooming again at the end of May here. I’m concerned I’ve stressed it out somehow. Oops! I love the pink flowers but they get so messy when they fall.
Got mine from a nurseryman in Boulder Creek, CO. We traded plants of all types – he had some I liked and I had some for him. For example a true Beef Steak begonia (meaning really RED leaf undersides). He said he could only find the ones with totally green leaves.
As an Aside…I now live in FL (and still have ‘rici’) but now I have his brother too! It’s just like Rici as far as ease of growth and size the only difference is there are no red ‘fibers’ growing on the leaf stems. I have not tried to research this plant, but it doesn’t seems to be as speacial as a Rici.
My Beefsteaks are all green foliage..I live in Sanford, Florida. I got my start from a neighbor but I think mine have done better because I keep them in a semi-shaded area. I have beautiful spikes of white blossoms . I trim the leaves off if they get torn (just a few) and no problems.
I have a hand me down, Immense from a friend, from her mom, from her grandma & great grandma- four generations. It is the coolest plant. It was outside all summer and it flourished, but some of the lower leaves have drooped toward the bottom of the container.
The upper leaves are beautiful and healthy. Question, do I cut the leaf off the drooped stem or trim the entire stem with the leaf or leave it?
Every once in awhile you need to refresh this plant by cutting off the tops and re-rooting them in fresh soil. Otherwise you end up with a long, curvy stem with all the leaves at the top, as you’re probably seeing now. I’ve cut the tops off of mine several times and rooted a new plant. Sometimes I’ll cut the leftover stem down and the mother plant makes new growth from that as well! Then I have one to keep and another to pass on.
My Immense begonia has the rhizomes growing up and out of the pot. Very unusual looking. Should I repot ?
Not sure if you have rhizomes growing out of the pot or just the long stems. These plants over time continue to shed leaves as the stems – usually about an inch thick – continue to grow longer, usually along the surface of the soil and then over edges of the pot. You can either live with this or cut off the top of the stem and repot that top in fresh soil after dusting the end with rooting hormone.
Dear C.L., after I wrote you an email, then I saw that you have after your blog on the Immense a number of comments, questions and answers. So I think the answer to the question I emailed is that I have to “manage” my dear Immensa by cutting off the drooping stems and giving them away as rootings. The original plant I did grow from a leaf but since then I’ve done the more usual putting in water until I see substantial roots, then putting the whole stem and roots into a pot up to the neck of the leaf. I know that’s not the usual way but it seems to work. Thank you. I’ve subscribed to your newsletter as it really is so very very interesting.
Love your networking for us . I just put my beefsteaks Ina new pot with a section of the rhizome with roots and it starts quickly! Right in a light soil mix!
My begonia grew from a gift of a cutting from a florist shop off Lake Shore Drive and E185th St in Euclid OH in 2012. The parent plant was in their front window, over 8 feet tall, immense indeed! I give cuttings to friends. Mine only had insignificant white flowers. But the red stem fibers are exciting and beautiful. I visited this shop to buy flowers for my father’s funeral service, so I think of him when I gaze at my thriving plant.
I got my cutting from a friend’s mother in 1973; it was an old plant then, and I’ve kept it going ever since. The leaves are the size of dinner plates or larger and the red furry stems are delightful! I have shared cuttings with many friends. In fact, I have 3 leaves sprouting in the kitchen window now! Definitely my favorite house plant!!!!
My Immense Begonia is about 15 years old. The leaves used to stand upright but now the majority are drooping. I am careful about watering, I think, and recently even have taken to using a water measuring rod thingy. I have not repotted for about 8 years because it is so large that it is hard to do. What do I do about the drooping leaves? It used to be the most beautiful plant but now it really is not. I could send a photo but maybe you already can imagine what it looks like. I would so appreciate your help.
This is a plant that has to be rejuvenated once in awhile. Once the main stems get long and twisty, and the older leaves fall off and other droop, it’s not so attractive. Plus as you mention, it’s hard to repot and older soil doesn’t have great drainage or nutrition. So you have to take a deep breath and cut the top 8″ off the main stems, dip that in rooting hormone, and plant that cutting in a new, smaller pot filled with fresh, damp potting soil to root. Once rooted and growing again you can transplant to a larger pot. I do this to my plant about every 4 or 5 years…in fact, it’s due for a rejuvenation right now!
Hi. I got my begonia from
A friend and it’s huge. Live in Wisconsin and brought it indoors. Not sure what to do with it now to get it to bloom. Should I rejuvenate and cut it? New to begonias so I’m unsire.
Jean,
Mine always comes into bloom in late January or February, as the days start to get longer. I think that the short days through December trigger this plant into flowering. So keep it in an Eastern or Western facing window and only remove dead or dying leaves.