Black Velvet Begonia Beauty In My Garden

This Begonia beauty was given to me by a friend. The gardening experts told me this is called Black Velvet Begonia. Begonia is called Pokok Assam Batu in Malay. It is claimed that the flowers of Begonia can be eaten and it tastes sourish. That is why it is called Pokok Assam Batu. Pokok means tree and assam means sour in Malay.

When I brought this plant home, it was a baby plant, with only 2 to 3 small leaves and about 4 inches tall only. It is a very precious jewel to me. Initially, I thought it was going to die but somehow it pulled through and it is now growing well.

At first, I planted the baby plant in a small pot. After the baby plant has settled and new leaves have grown, I transferred it this current pot. 

The new leaves are wine red and as it age, it changes to a darker shade. Sometimes it looks like dark purplish green, sometimes like blackish green.

This is a very special plant and it is not easily available in the nurseries.

The leaves are velvety and the colour are in different shade. 

This Black Velvet Begonia is best kept from direct sunlight.

I kept it under the porch where it is bright.

The surface of the leaves has tiny hairs.

Begonias make good indoor plants.

Begonia grow best in good water drainage soil.

Too much water or water logged soil will cause root rot. 

This picture was taken at night under the porch lighting.

Here the leaves looked like dark green with a sparkling centre.

I have shifted it and place it on this old sewing machine's pedal.

 This was taken with natural lighting. 

This was taken in the morning.

This was taken in the day light, under the porch.

Here it looked like purplish green with a sparkling centre. 

 I called it Black Velvet Begonia Beauty!

It has a sparkling jewel in the centre.

It grows from rhizomes or tubers. Propagation is by separation of rhizomes or tubers. I will have to wait for it to multiply more before I can separate the rhizomes to plant in more pots.

The leaf stalks are light green with red spots.

The underside of leaf is wine red and is smooth.

Thanking God for the friend who gave me this precious jewel.

The man who knows right from wrong and

has good judgment and common sense is happier

than the man who is immensely rich!

For such wisdom is far more valuable than precious jewels.

Nothing else compares with it.

(Proverbs 3:13-15, TLB)