Begonia belongs to the genus Begoniaceae, including about 1600 species. As an ornamental flowering plant, Begonia is distributed throughout the world, although Africa is considered its homeland. Under natural conditions, Begonia can be found in the Himalayas, Sri Lanka, India's mountains and the Malay Archipelago.
Begonia was first described in the 17th century during an expedition to the Antilles (islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico). Six different types of plants were named Begonia - in honor of M. Begon, who organized the expedition. Today, Begonia is one of the most popular ornamental flowering plants due to the variety of species and unpretentious care. In floriculture, it is planted with equal success both in open and protected ground.
