Combining two worlds of Begonia perfection is the Bornean species Begonia
malachosticta. On one hand, a pink-spotted cane type plant boasts incredible color, big, showy leaves and a general appearance fine-tuned for the damp forest floors it calls home. However, on top of all of this comes the presence of iridescence. One of the defining characteristics amongst Bornean Begonias is the glimmery, blue-sheen perfection that can only be seen by viewing a plant from the side, shifting it carefully under light. Begonia
malachosticta is not a plant that asks for too much; though it can definitely benefit from additional humidity. Mature examples of this species should be staked when they reach a height of over 12 inches, and regular propagation is encouraged; in the event of a die-off. The careful cultivator will be rewarded with an incredibly variable plant that can shift like a chameleon from light green to sleek, shimmering black when grown under a lower intensity of light.
