Begonia 'Shamus'

Rhizomatous perennial begonia, striped foliage curled in a spiral like a shell, with changeable colour.

It requires little care, just well-drained soil so that the rhizomes do not rot and lots of light, but never direct sun, especially in summer.

Classification
Genus and species: Begonia x hybrida
Cultivar: 'Shamus'
Group: Rhizomatous begonia.
Family: Begoniaceae.

Characteristics
Flower Description: Flowers in clusters on stems rising above the leaves.
Flower color: Pinkish white.
Flowering period: Spring. Begonias bloom once a year, but flowering is prolonged for months.
Leaves: Medium sized, crested, spiral, with ciliated margins; the young leaves are olive green with brown stripes. The older they get, the more they become a very dark, black and velvety green with green streaks.
Perfume: -
Dimensions: Height 20 cm. Indefinite width (rhizomatous begonias are creeping and widen as long as they have space).

Cultivation
Exposure: Partial shade, shade
Soil: Likes well-drained soil.
Irrigation: Medium, never stagnant.
Frost resistance: USDA 10.

Care
Pruning: Does not require pruning; clean any leaf that has suspicious spots, also removing the stalk.
Propagation: From portion of rhizome or leaf cutting, with temperatures above 20°C. By division at vegetative awakening.

Notes of interest
Use in cooking: Flowers and leaves are edible, raw or cooked, the flavor is acidic and spicy.