ADULTPLANTS

Begoniaceae

1 species in this database

1 of 1 Begoniaceae species here are toxic to cats and dogs, all via soluble calcium oxalates. They water every 5 to 10 days.

PlantLightWaterPet safeDifficulty
Polka dot begoniaBegonia maculata Medium 5–10d No Moderate

What these share

Derived from the 1 entries above, not asserted about the family at large.

Watering range across the familyEvery 5 to 10 days for a 6-inch pot indoors
Native habitat recordedtropical understory
Toxic to cats and dogs1 of 1 — soluble calcium oxalates
Least demanding herePolka dot begonia, Moderate. Scores 3 of 5: fast and easy to propagate, but it drops leaves at the first cold draft and mildews if water sits on the foliage.

Family membership is a rough guide to care, not a rule. It predicts toxic principle far better than it predicts watering: species in the same family routinely come from different habitats, and habitat is what sets the interval. Read the individual entry before acting on anything here.

Sources

  1. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — family placement for 1 of 1 species (example)
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control — toxicity classification, cited per species on each entry
  3. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — poison severity where published
  4. Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — pest and disease guidance, cited per species

Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-11
Every figure on this page is computed from the species entries listed above. Nothing here is a claim about Begoniaceae beyond the plants in this database.