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Rex Begonia
Begonia rex
Also known as Begonia rex, Painted-Leaf Begonia, King Begonia
Plantae›Begoniaceae
📍 Cultivated Begonia (Asian parentage)
Show-stopping leaves swirled in silver, purple, and green. Grown emersed with its roots in the tank water, it works as a living biofilter — pulling up nitrate while the foliage stays in the air.
Grown with its roots in the tank water and its leaves in the air — a living nitrate filter, not a submerged aquarium plant. Give it bright indirect light; no aquarium CO₂ or substrate needed.
Contains soluble oxalates — toxic if eaten; keep foliage away from grazing fish, the roots are safe.
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Quick Facts
- light
- Bright indirect
- biofilter
- true
- placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
- growth rate
- moderate
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0–7.5
- nitrate
- Thrives on high nitrate — a strong natural exporter
- hardness
- Soft to hard (2–20 dGH)
- temperature
- 64–82°F (18–28°C)
Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.