Space Age Black Hole Rex Begonia (Begonia rex-cultorum 'Space Age Black Hole')
bah-GO-nyah rex-cultorum 'Space Age Black Hole'

Annual (usually grown as an annual near you)
 

 
Available May 9
Size Notes Price Availability
Eco+ Grande(TM) Tray of 10 4" compostable pots Greenhouse $61.80
Tray of 3 #1 gallons Greenhouse $34.61
Available May 16
Size Notes Price Availability
Eco+ Grande(TM) Tray of 10 4" compostable pots Greenhouse $61.80
Tray of 3 #1 gallons Greenhouse $34.61
Available May 23
Size Notes Price Availability
Eco+ Grande(TM) Tray of 10 4" compostable pots Greenhouse $61.80
Tray of 3 #1 gallons Greenhouse $34.61
 

Shining silver leaves with black, jagged edges, dark green veining and an explosion of burgundy to black in the center characterize this striking cultivar. Small, coral red blossoms are an occasional added bonus. This dense, upright mounding plant shines in shade containers.



You’ve probably seen Begonia rex as a houseplant, but did you know they can be stunners in the garden, too? Even though these plants do flower, they’re really prized for their strikingly colored and patterned foliage. 

 

Rex begonias love humid conditions, but don’t like to get their feet wet . . . overwatering this plant will result in a soft, wilted mess. You can also over-fertilize this one, which will result in discolored, burned leaves and a lingering feeling that no good deed goes unpunished. Long story short, give this beauty some space and she’ll give you a season’s worth of fabulous foliage.

Pros

  • Thrives in partial to full shade

  • Gorgeously colored and patterned foliage

  • Doesn’t require deadheading for continuous blooms (but honestly, who cares about the blooms with those leaves!)

Cons

  • Can be a bit of a diva when overwatered

  • Will burn if over-fertilized

  • Susceptible to botrytis blight, a fungal leaf disease / solution: water the soil, not the foliage

 

Plant Data

Mature Size 15 - 18 inches tall. 15 - 18 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Tags Annual, Annual in Chicago, Colorful Foliage, Container, Full Shade, Good Indoor Plant, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Shade Tolerant, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Occasional
Flower Color Red
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!