Rex Begonia 'Curly Fireflush' is my Favorite Plant...This Week

When I visited the Portland Yard, Garden, and Patio Show a month ago, M and N Nursery had a flat of unmarked begonias which clearly needed further investigation.  I have a thing for begonias and the Rex group, having some of the showiest foliage of the clan always catch one's attention.

The leaves of this one were nice enough but it was the covering of red fur that made me fall in lust.

This plant got dragged around the show all day and has lived in my care for a whole month without dying so it's obviously one tough customer!

When backlight by the sun, the leaves shine like stained glass.

Rex begonias are winter hardy in zones 10 and above but here must be brought inside for the winter.  

From Logee's comes the following information:
The deeply spiraled leaves invite wonder and awe. Gaze into the chartreuse green and chocolate lined spiral and notice the fine red hairs that bring this unique form into distinction. It was developed in the 1940's, almost a century after the original hybrid was created. Unlike other rexes, this one never goes dormant and its flowers are fragrant. Hardy to Zone 10 and higher for outdoors. Partial sun, grows to 10-14" in container, minimum temperature indoors 60°.

What's turning your head this week?  Click on over to Danger Garden to check out this week's favorite plants from garden bloggers around the globe.

Also from Logee's  -

Hardy to Zone 10 and higher for outdoors.  Partial sun, grows to 14" in container, minimum temperature 60°. Light:	Partial sun, an eastern or western exposure. Rex Begonias can tolerate low light but perform better with some direct sunlight.
Temperature:	Maintain temperatures indoors above 60°.
Humidity:	Preferably 50% or higher; however, they will tolerate low levels of humidity for a short time.
Watering:	Bring soil to a state of visual dryness between waterings. When watering, thoroughly saturate the soil until some water runs out of the bottom of the pot. Clay pots will ensure a quick dry down. Do not over water.
Fertilizer:	Moderate feeders when grown under high light. Fertilize with ¼ tsp of fertilizer per gallon of water once a week during the summer or when actively growing. Use a balanced fertilizer like a 15-15-15 or 7-9-5.
Pruning:	Pinch the tips of the young plants to encourage branching. This will help create a bushy plant and discourage leggy growth. On older plants, prune when growth gets excessive.
Insects and Disease:	Little susceptibility to insects, however mildew can be a problem. Treat seasonally with a preventative spray of 1 TBL of baking soda to a quart of water with a dribble of dishwashing soap.
Comments:	Rex Begonias have a resting period in the winter; at this time do not over water them. Give some direct sunlight.