Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon'

Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon'

£19.49 £21.99 SAVE 11%
Overwinter under coverShade-tolerantEvergreen
Pot size
17cm / 2L £19.49

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Description

Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon' is one of the most dramatic foliage plants you can grow, prized for its deeply lobed, near-black leaves that shimmer with a metallic purple sheen and flash deep red on their undersides. The bold, almost maple-like leaf shape gives it a sculptural, architectural presence that lifts any shady corner, patio grouping or conservatory display. For anyone who loves a rex begonia for its colour but wants something with real structure, this striking hybrid delivers moody, gothic glamour in spades.

Its colouring is the main event. In good, indirect light the foliage takes on an inky, almost-black depth with iridescent highlights, while delicate sprays of pale pink to white flowers appear through summer as a soft counterpoint to the dark leaves. Compact and bushy, it reaches around 60-90 cm tall and 45-60 cm wide, making it a manageable yet eye-catching specimen.

How and where to grow

This is a tender exotic rather than a hardy garden plant, so it is best treated as a patio or house begonia. Give it bright but indirect light or dappled, partial shade, as harsh midday sun will scorch the leaves and fade their metallic finish. Grow it in a free-draining, peat-free, loam-based compost with added perlite or bark, keeping the mix lightly moist but never waterlogged. Reduce watering in winter and avoid wetting the foliage to keep mildew at bay.

  • Position: bright indirect light or partial shade, sheltered from wind
  • Hardiness: tender (RHS H1c), protect from all frost
  • Size: roughly 60-90 cm tall, 45-60 cm spread

In the UK, stand it outdoors once nights stay reliably above 10C, then bring it back under glass or indoors before the first autumn frosts. Whether you are searching for an unusual shrub begonia for sale or simply a knockout foliage plant, this is a collector's favourite. Every plant we send out is nursery-grown, hand-selected and carefully packed to arrive in superb condition, ready to become the dark star of your collection.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon'

Give me sun with a little shade and bring me under cover before the frosts.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon'

Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon' needs partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is frost tender and must come under cover for winter.

Good for

Architectural Exotic Borders Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

Tender (H2): down to around 1°C. Tolerates cool conditions but not frost; protect or bring in over winter.

Tender and frost-sensitive (around RHS H1c), so this is a summer patio plant rather than a hardy garden one. Stand it outdoors from late May once nights are reliably above 10C, then bring it back under glass or indoors before the first autumn frosts and keep it as a houseplant over winter. Read moreShow less

Tender and frost-sensitive (around RHS H1c), so this is a summer patio plant rather than a hardy garden one. Stand it outdoors from late May once nights are reliably above 10C, then bring it back under glass or indoors before the first autumn frosts and keep it as a houseplant over winter.

Position

Partial shadeNorth-facingEast-facingWest-facingSheltered
Give it bright but indirect light or dappled, partial shade. Harsh midday summer sun scorches the dark leaves and fades their metallic sheen, so a north, east or west-facing, sheltered spot is ideal. Read moreShow less

Give it bright but indirect light or dappled, partial shade. Harsh midday summer sun scorches the dark leaves and fades their metallic sheen, so a north, east or west-facing, sheltered spot is ideal.

Soil

LoamMoist but well-drainedAcid pHNeutral pH
Grow in a free-draining, peat-free houseplant or loam-based compost with added perlite or fine bark. It dislikes heavy, waterlogged conditions, so a container that drains freely is essential. Read moreShow less

Grow in a free-draining, peat-free houseplant or loam-based compost with added perlite or fine bark. It dislikes heavy, waterlogged conditions, so a container that drains freely is essential.

Watering

Keep the compost lightly moist through the growing season but never soggy, letting the top centimetre or two dry between waterings. Reduce watering markedly in winter, and avoid wetting the foliage to prevent mildew and rot. Read moreShow less

Keep the compost lightly moist through the growing season but never soggy, letting the top centimetre or two dry between waterings. Reduce watering markedly in winter, and avoid wetting the foliage to prevent mildew and rot.

Mature size

Height60-90 cm
Spread45-60 cm

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Bushy

Flowering

Jun-Sep · Pink

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen (stays evergreen only when kept frost-free over winter)

Pruning

Grown for its dark foliage. Tidy away tatty leaves as needed and cut back to the crown once frost knocks it down; overwinter frost-free to bring it back into growth in spring.

Toxicity

Toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten; the tubers and sap are the most harmful part and the sap may irritate skin.

Native range

Garden origin (hybrid)

Family

Begoniaceae

Genus

Begonia →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon' hardy outdoors in the UK?

No, it is a tender exotic and will not survive UK frosts. Treat it as a summer patio or conservatory plant, standing it outside in the warm months and bringing it indoors or under glass before the first autumn frost.

Where is the best place to grow it?

It thrives in bright but indirect light or dappled, partial shade in a sheltered spot. Direct, hot midday sun scorches the near-black leaves and dulls their metallic shimmer, so avoid a full-sun position.

How big does it get?

Expect a bushy plant of roughly 60-90 cm tall and 45-60 cm across at maturity, reaching its full size over two to five years. Its compact, sculptural habit makes it ideal for pots and patio display.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, a container is the ideal way to grow it in the UK. Pots make it easy to move the plant outdoors for summer and back under cover for winter, and a free-draining, peat-free compost in a well-drained pot suits it perfectly.

Is this begonia safe around pets?

No, begonias are toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten, with the tubers and sap being the most harmful part. Keep it out of reach of curious pets and wash your hands after handling, as the sap can irritate skin.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Begonia

Begonias are among the most beloved houseplants for their vibrant colours and unique foliage. Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or a beginner, learning how to care for your Begonia can ensure it thrives for years. This guide will take you through...

More about Begonia care
Begonia Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

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Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

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Perfect for Gifting

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From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

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All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

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Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon'
£19.49 £21.99