Begonia x ‘Little Brother Montgomery’
Native range: Hybrid origin (cultivated in Redwood City, California)
Known names: N/A
Hardiness: Keep above 50°F
Mature size: ~12" tall, ~18" wide
Light: Bright, indirect light, dappled light; avoid direct afternoon sun
Water: Water when top inch of soil is dry
Soil: Rich, well-draining mix with added perlite or pumice
Dormancy: None
Pet-safe: No
Plant size: Grown in 4" pot, shipped semi bare root
 
Begonia ‘Little Brother Montgomery’ was hybridized by Martin Johnson in Redwood City, CA, in the late 1970s. It’s a sister seedling to B. ‘Connee Boswell’. The cross was B. palmata var. × (B. palmata × B. diadema), resulting in rhizomatous plants with upright stems.
Both have star-shaped leaves:
‘Connee Boswell’ features silver-lavender foliage.
‘Little Brother Montgomery’ shows blackish-brown and silver leaves with a red umbo.
Of the two, ‘Little Brother Montgomery’ is generally easier, more heat-tolerant and less prone to desegment in cool, dark conditions.