Wild Begonia
Rumex venosus
Last reviewed: August 2026
Wild Begonia is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). 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.
Native swaps for a yard with pets
Wild Begonia is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. These natives fill a similar role in a planting and are not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs or cats. Each plant's page carries its dated record.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, IA and 16 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
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 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Wild begonia is a low-growing native perennial with distinctive broad, wavy leaves and clusters of small greenish flowers in late spring and summer. This drought-tolerant plant spreads by underground rhizomes and thrives in sandy soils, making it useful for challenging dry sites.
In an HOA neighborhood
Wild Begonia takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Has weedy appearance especially when not blooming
- Common name includes 'wild' which signals informal appearance
- May spread beyond intended boundaries
Wildlife value
Provides nectar for bees and beetles during its May through July bloom period. The seeds also offer food for small birds and wildlife.
Common questions
- How much sun does Wild Begonia need?
- Wild Begonia grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Wild Begonia bloom?
- Wild Begonia blooms in May, June, and July.
- Where is Wild Begonia native?
- Wild Begonia (Rumex venosus) is native to AZ, CA, CO, IA and 16 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Wild Begonia toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Wild 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 Wild Begonia toxic to cats?
- Yes. Wild 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.
- What pollinators does Wild Begonia attract?
- Wild Begonia draws bees and beetles.
- Is Wild Begonia HOA-friendly?
- Wild Begonia takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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 Wild Begonia and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.