Spiral Rex Begonia

Begonia 'Escargot'

Regular price £5.99
/
Regular price £5.99
/

Spiral Rex Begonia

Begonia 'Escargot'

Regular price £5.99
/
Regular price £5.99
/

New to this plant? See how to care for it

Begonia 'Escargot'

Begonia 'Escargot'

6cm

£5.99

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Earn 25 points 5 points per £1 spent Sign Up Now
Carbon-neutral shipping on all orders

The leaf base curls inward in a tight spiral, like a snail shell. Begonia 'Escargot' is a Rex Begonia with large, asymmetric leaves that swirl at the centre in a pronounced corkscrew pattern. The colour moves in concentric bands of silver, mid-green, and deep chocolate-brown, following the spiral and creating a bold, graphic effect. The surface carries a fine, fuzzy texture. It stays compact and low, forming a dense rosette that suits a tabletop, shelf, or terrarium where humidity can be kept high.


Origins
Rex Begonias are derived from Begonia rex, native to the forests of northeastern India. 'Escargot' is a modern hybrid selected for the distinctive spiral at the leaf base and its bold, banded colouring.


Soil and Substrate
Our Simply Houseplant Tropical Potting Mix provides a well-draining, peat-free blend that suits Rex Begonias well.

Diameter 6cm
Approx Height 10-20cm
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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. Whether grown in our own nursery or sourced from trusted partner growers, every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something isn't right on arrival, we'll make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

Find out more →

How to care for Begonia 'Escargot'

Begonia 'Escargot' is a houseplant that takes a little effort. It needs bright indirect light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, high humidity and a minimum temperature of 13°C. It is harmful to pets and small children if eaten.

Care level

A Little Effort

One thing to get right. Stay on top of that and the rest is straightforward.

Light

Bright indirect

Also copes with medium/moderate

Close to a bright window but out of direct sun. A metre back, or behind a sheer curtain, is about right.

What does bright indirect light mean?

Water

drydamp
Let the compost dry top 2 to 3cm before watering again.

Let top few cm dry out

Push a finger in. Water when the top 2 to 3cm of compost feels dry, then let it drain freely.

Humidity

Needs high humidity

Wants 60% or more. Best in a bathroom, a cabinet, or with a humidifier. Dry air shows up as crisp brown leaf edges.

Should I mist my houseplants?

Temperature

Keep above 13°C

Average room (10-14C)

Fine in any normally heated room. Move it off cold windowsills on frosty nights.

Pets and children

Toxic if eaten

Harmful if chewed or swallowed. Keep it out of reach of pets and small children, and wash your hands after pruning.

Sourced from ASPCA and NC State toxicity records. If a pet does eat any houseplant, ring your vet.

Type & growth habit

HabitBushy
Plant typeBegoniaFoliage houseplant
Also known as
Spiral Rex Begonia
Genus
Begonia

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.

Packaged with Care

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.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

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.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

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

Good for your home - and the planet.

See What's In the Box!

See behind the box with these awesome unboxing videos from some of our favourite Youtubers.

Unboxing video
Unboxing video
Unboxing video
Unboxing video

Customers praised this "beautiful" and "healthy" plant with "big leaves." Most shoppers loved the "expert packaging" and condition on arrival. However, some noted the plant is delicate and sensitive to cold, with a few experiencing leaf damage during shipping. One customer said leaves had "rips and holes" but received compensation.

  • Amazed at how big the leaves were and how large the plant was well established.
  • Beautiful and healthy. Arrived very well packed and communication was effective.
  • Such a beautiful specimen! Nice bushy plant, love it!
  • 5 stars: 10 (83%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (8%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 1 (8%)
S
Shazia Akhtar (United Kingdom)

Beautiful begonia arrived in great condition and packaged very well. Would recommend

r
rose j.
Really Pleased

Worth every penny, beautiful and healthy.
Delighted to get a wish-list begonia without mildew on it, my experience with another company last year was disastrous for my collection. I'll back looking for more special plants :D
Arrived very well packed and communication with them was effective.

J
June H.
begonia escargot

Beautiful plant so very well packed. Thank you.

B
Bethany D.
Delicate plant!

Lost half its leaves due to the cold, I think. Still looks pretty though!

G
Grace

Expertly packaged! A most beautiful healthy plant. I will most definitely be purchasing from Grow Tropicals again in the future!

G
Grace

Expertly packaged! A most beautiful healthy plant. I will most definitely be purchasing from Grow Tropicals again in the future!

C
Carolyn S.
Begonia

It arrived quite damaged all leaves had rips and holes in
They gave me 20 percent off

E
Eva

Bigger than expected and very healthy.

J
Jess S.
Amazing!

I ordered 2 begonias & was amazed at how big the leaves were and how large the plant was well established. I loved my order from Grow Tropics. Thank you!

R
Ruth Atkinson
Disappointed

I've ordered various plants from GT over the past year and not had any issues until now. The Begonia Escargot arrived in a poor condition - floppy, with two leaves already snapped off and one of the leaves torn. It also felt wobbly & unstable in the nursery pot. However 10 days on from already raising this issue, the plant appears to have sadly deteriorated further with a lot of leaves now dropped off so it looks quite bare.
I wouldn't recommend this plant

Hi Ruth,
>
I'm really sorry to hear that your Begonia Escargot arrived in less than
perfect condition.

If you would liek to send us a picture of the plant we would be more than
happy to resolve this for you.

V
Vhari Calder
Delighted

Very happy with my begonia. The delivery and packaging was perfect.

M
Magda L.
Beautiful

Such a beautiful specimen!! Nice bushy plant, love it!