A hallmark of Borneo’s Begonias tends to reveal itself when a collector has observed enough of them; and that’s their iridescence. A number of Bornean species show a shiny, ‘oil-slick’ iridescence along their leaf surfaces; however none do it better than Begonia dracopelta. Leaves are toothed with serrated edges, and glisten an immaculate blue when exposed to light. Dracopelta is a species usually found along the fast-moving creeks and rivers of Borneo, which is something that should be taken into account when trying to properly house this species; a plant’s natural habitat can give great credence to how it should be grown. Though a living-room river is not necessary, a rocky soil that drains quickly and frequent waterings will make the growing experience of Begonia dracopelta much less tedious than they can be. This species is not hard to grow; no plant is truly hard to grow, but it is a species that should be given some additional humidity in order for it to thrive. For terrarium growers, this species is nothing short of a centerpiece; large, reddish ‘teeth’ stand out against a lime green base, and a short, rhizomatous growth pattern lends itself to large, radiant leaves that can be grown off a small and manageable root system, which makes it perfect for both terrariums and cloche/dome cultivation, a technique that makes for an incredible specimen for display at home and garden shows where it can be given the chance to shine that all Begonias should be.
