When it comes to foliage, Begonias are hard to beat!
Most houseplant lovers are familiar with the beautiful and versatile Rex Begonia, but don’t forget that there’s more to this genus. One example of a lesser known variety that is actually surprisingly easy to grow is Begonia erythrophylla, commonly referred to as beefsteak Begonia.
Everything you need to know about growing beefsteak Begonia in your own home can be found below.
| Name(s) (common, scientific) | Beefsteak Begonia, beef Begonia, Begonia erythrophylla |
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Recommended lighting | Bright indirect |
| Water | Let dry slightly |
| Soil type | Well-draining |
Beefsteak Begonia origins
This is normally where we discuss a plant’s natural habitat. However, technically speaking, Begonia erythrophylla doesn’t have one. It’s a hybrid species, one of the first hybrid Begonias to be exact! It was hybridized in 1845 in Germany by crossing two other rhizomatous Begonia species: Begonia manicata and Begonia hydrocotylifolia.
Nowadays, the beefsteak Begonia is considered an heirloom species and it isn’t always easy to encounter. Pity, because it’s the perfect combination of beautiful and sturdy.
Beefsteak Begonia light, location & temperature
Light
One of the great characteristics of the beefsteak Begonia is that it’s not fussy at all when it comes to lighting. It can tolerate relatively low light as long as you adjust the watering schedule accordingly. Bright indirect light works best, though.
Be sure to avoid direct sun, especially during summer, as leaf scorching can happen if things get a little too intense for this plant.
Location
Due to its preferences when it comes to lighting, this plant does best in a bright (but not sunny) windowsill.
Unlike many Begonias, the beefsteak has no special needs when it comes to humidity, so you can place it in any location that has normal humidity levels.
Temperature
You’ve probably guessed it: this unfussy plant isn’t too particular about temperature either. Normal room temperature should be just fine.
Just try not to let things drop below ~60 °F/15.5 °C, which is probably unlikely to happen indoors anyway.
Beefsteak Begonia soil & planting
As with most Begonias, beefsteaks don’t like to sit in water due to their succulent rhizomes being vulnerable to rot. At the same time, they don’t like to get too dry either. So to grow this plant successfully, you’ll have to keep both drainage and moisture in mind. Sounds complicated, but it’s really not.
A good soil mixture for a beefsteak Begonia can consist of basic potting soil to retain moisture, mixed with a gritty medium like perlite to improve drainage.
Most Begonia growers prefer using a relatively shallow pot for varieties like the beefsteak. After all, this is a rhizomatous plant with a horizontal creeping growth pattern, so a wide pot ensures that it has plenty of room to grow. As with all houseplants, your pot should always have a drainage hole so excess water can’t cause rot.
Watering beefsteak Begonia
As discussed above, beefsteak Begonias like their soil to be kept lightly moist but absolutely not wet. A little on the dry side is better than too soggy, so unless the plant is growing abundantly during the growing season it’s a good idea to let the top of the soil dry out a little before watering again.
During the winter months when the plant is partially or entirely dormant, lessen waterings. As long as it’s not growing, it doesn’t need as much water.
Beefsteak Begonia fertilizer
Although your beefsteak Begonia will appreciate a little fertilizer during the growing months (summertime), be careful. It’s easy to overdo it with this plant, as it only likes to be fertilized lightly.
Use a regular houseplant fertilizer, but dilute it to less than half strength. Apply every two to four weeks and stop as soon as you notice growth slowing after summer.
Propagating beefsteak Begonia
One fun aspect of growing beefsteak Begonias (and other rhizomatous Begonias) is how easy these plants are to propagate. In fact, most houseplant enthusiasts seem to acquire this plant through propagation of friends’ or family members’ plants.
The species is not hugely popular in plant stores and garden centers anymore, so many of the beefsteaks found in people’s homes are “heirlooms” that can be decades old! They do tend to die off eventually, but you can just take a cutting and start anew, thereby keeping your plant alive for years.
So how do you go about propagating this Begonia? You don’t need much. Even just a single leaf can be enough, and all you need to do to make it grow a new plant is lightly press the petiole into the soil. You can also cut off any portion of the stem, with or without leaves, and root this in soil or water.
Tip: Want to know all the ins and outs of the various ways to propagate Begonias? Have a look at the full Begonia propagation guide.
Buying beefsteak Begonia
If you’re looking for a beefsteak Begonia, you might not have much luck in a regular plant store. Although this Begonia went through a very popular phase, it’s now often considered a bit of a ‘grandma plant’. Well, I’ll happily be a granny then, as beefsteaks are much easier to care for than some other Begonias and their foliage looks spectacular in the sunlight.
To obtain your beefsteak Begonia you might be best off searching for an online plant store that sells it or dive into the world of Facebook houseplant groups to see if someone is willing to trade or sell you a cutting.
Are beefsteak Begonias toxic to cats and dogs?
Unfortunately, the ASPCA lists all Begonias as toxic to pets. They contain calcium oxalates, which cause a strong burning sensation. Some species also contain cucurbitacins in their roots or rhizomes, some of which are quite toxic.
