Begonia 'Withlacoochee', also known as ‘Brazilian Lady,’ is a registered cultivar developed by Francis Michelson in 1977 by crossing Begonia thelmae with Begonia peruviana. The ‘Brazilian Lady’ nickname was more than likely made up by a plant company and is NOT a registered cultivar. Begonia 'Withlacoochee' was named in honor of the Withlacoochee river in Florida, which is a Creek Native American word meaning "Little Big Water". ‘Withlacoochee’ exists in the rare transitional zone between terrarium plants and houseplants, a line that can’t easily be threaded by the average variety. However, ‘Withlacoochee’ has just enough humidity and light tolerance to be suited to something as simple as a teacup on a windowsill, or something as intricate as hanging from a piece of driftwood in a well-planned hardscape. With comparison to
thelmae, ‘Withlacoochee’ has tighter inter-nodal spacing, creating the appearance of a denser plant, and a growth habit that would be best described as ‘nodding’. Stems will ramble up a flat surface; whether crawling on a floor or up glass, before the growth point will begin to lean downwards, as if in silent contemplation or thought. This plant provides an incredible middle ground between two worlds of collectors, and it should be welcomed by both the terrarium perfectionist, and the houseplant collector.
