Begonia Pollux

“This is Begonia “Pollux,” one of the two stars in the Gemini constellation and named after the nearest big star to the sun. The beautiful constellation of silver spots on the leaflets that give this Rex hybrid its name are clearly visible. The leaves have crimson petioles and a silvery overlay that is light green.

This is a newcomer that was raised in Japan and was only introduced in 1994. (by Hideki Yamaguchi of plant breeding company Suntory). It is a cross between the Chinese B. circumlobata, which has palmate leaves, and the Rex hybrid “The Chief,” which was afterwards crossed with the Chinese B. hemsleyana, which is native to Yunnan and has palmate leaves with tiny silver dots.”