Native to the Atlantic rainforest of southeastern Brazil, this upright-growing perennial is adapted to warm, humid understories where it receives filtered light and steady moisture. It is widely recognized for its striking foliage—dark green leaves with silvery spots and red undersides—but it also produces abundant pendulous clusters of white flowers, each with four to five rounded petals and a vivid yellow center composed of multiple stamens. Begonia maculata is popular in cultivation worldwide as a houseplant and in shaded gardens in frost-free areas, prized for both its patterned leaves and floral display. Propagation is commonly achieved through stem cuttings, which root readily in warm, moist environments. This species is also used in breeding programs to introduce distinctive spotted leaf patterns into hybrid begonias. Photographed in Florida.