Wax Begonia
Begonia cucullata
Last reviewed: September 2026
Wax Begonia is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
6"–12" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Native alternatives to Wax Begonia
Wax Begonia is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA compact tender perennial usually grown as an annual, with thick glossy leaves and steady clusters of small flowers. It handles both sun and part shade and needs no deadheading to keep blooming.
In an HOA neighborhood
Wax Begonia is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 5 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation bed, border.
Wildlife value
Grown as an ornamental. Non-native plants support far fewer local insects than a native of similar size, so treat this as garden interest rather than habitat.
Common questions
- How much sun does Wax Begonia need?
- Wax Begonia grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Wax Begonia bloom?
- Wax Begonia blooms in May, June, July, August, September, and October.
- Is Wax Begonia toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Wax Begonia is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Wax Begonia toxic to cats?
- Yes. Wax Begonia is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Wax Begonia HOA-friendly?
- Wax Begonia is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Wax Begonia and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.