Developed from species native to the forests of northeastern India, southern China, and Vietnam, Begonia rex-cultorum is a horticultural group of rhizomatous perennial begonias bred primarily for ornamental foliage. The leaves are large, asymmetrical, and often elaborately patterned in combinations of red, burgundy, silver, pink, and green, with surface textures that may range from smooth to slightly puckered or hairy. These plants grow from creeping rhizomes and typically reach 12–18 in in height, forming dense clumps that spread slowly in cultivation. Small, pink to white flowers may appear above the foliage, but the blooms are secondary to the striking leaf patterns that make the group highly desirable in decorative plantings. Many named varieties, such as ‘Escargot’ with its spiral-patterned leaves or ‘Fireworks’ with bold magenta and silver contrasts, have received awards from horticultural societies for their decorative appeal. These plants are frost-sensitive. Photographed in Ecuador.