A chocolate-brown cross emblazons each of this Begonia's broad, puckered leaves, making it a stand-out in any collection. Bright but not scorching light is a requirement year-round -- 14 hours illumination daily with fluorescents is ideal; avoid chilly winter windowsills. Challenging but well worth the effort is our verdict. Shipped in a 4 1/2-inch, cream ceramic pot with attached saucer.

Our eye-catching foliage plants look great day in and day out. Some produce flowers, but that’s just a bonus. We selected this group with ease of care in mind as well, and then matched them up with ceramic pots softly glazed in cream or light green. Most are frost-sensitive tropicals that are not hardy in our climate, but we often move them outdoors for the summer and then bring them back inside before temperatures dip below 50 degrees F in the fall.

Shipment begins in March, weather permitting.