Elatostema rugosum

Elatostema rugosum Details

Elatostema rugosum, commonly known as Parataniwha or the New Zealand Begonia, is an attractive, herbaceous perennial often used as groundcover in damp and shaded areas. The large and lush foliage is bronze-green and often develops a prominent purple tone. The stems tend to be shorter and leaves smaller when grown in partial shade conditions compared to when grown in heavy shade. It typically grows to 50 cm tall and 1 m wide, performing best when grown in shaded conditions on a well-drained site that does not dry out. Elatostema rugosum makes for a lovely groundcover in shaded areas and is commonly included in woodland gardens.