Whether you find an angel wing begonia rare or common depends on the exact type you want. Standard varieties sit on shelves at garden centers and big-box stores everywhere. But certain cultivars with unusual leaf patterns can be tough to track down. Those tend to carry higher price tags when you do find them.
Rarity comes down to how many growers produce each type. Lucerna and Charles Jaros have been in mass production for decades. Growers make them by the thousands because demand is steady. Newer cultivars with splash patterns or odd colors have limited stock. Fewer growers produce them and each batch takes time to build up. The supply chain for rare begonia varieties like Splish Splash or Looking Glass stays small and moves slow.
I've bought angel wings from both ends of the spectrum. My local Home Depot carries Lucerna for about $8 to $12 in a four-inch pot. Healthy plants, good size, nothing special about finding one. When I wanted a Looking Glass with those metallic silver leaves, I searched for three months before finding one on Etsy for $45 plus shipping. The price gap tells the whole story about availability. Common cultivars cost under $15 while specialty ones run $30 to $50 or more through private sellers.
If you want to know where to buy angel wing begonia plants, your options depend on what type you want. For common ones, check Home Depot or Lowe's in spring and summer when they stock tropical plants. For mid-range types, your local indie nursery often has a wider selection. For the hard-to-find cultivars, you'll need to shop online.
I shop for specialty angel wings on Etsy because sellers show photos of the exact plant you'll get. Steve's Leaves and Logee's also carry less common types on a rotating basis. For the rarest finds, check out the American Begonia Society. Their local chapters hold plant sales and auctions where you can grab rare begonia varieties and cuttings that never show up in stores.
One last tip: don't overpay for a common type that someone labeled as rare. I've seen standard Lucerna plants listed for $35 on apps because the seller wrote a fancy description. Learn the most common names and what they look like before you buy. A quick image search can save you from spending triple the fair price on a plant you could grab at your garden center for under $15.
Read the full article: Angel Wing Begonia Care and Growing Guide
