Just when you thought you've seen everything comes this awesome, new Costa Rican Begonia.  This cloud forest species makes wacky, star-shaped fruit with an eerie, alien look!  It also has terrific leaves that are covered in soft, red hairs.  This very distinctive Begonia is new to cultivation, and probably is a new, unnamed species.  It's a great botanical novelty, and it's easy to grow when given the right conditions.  I don't know anyone else offering it.

The plant makes long, attractive shoots that trail and climb about 2 to 3 feet in all directions, which makes it well-suited for a hanging planter.  Its 4 inch leaves have wavy margins and bright burgundy undersides.  The top side of the leaves are covered in curved, red hairs, whose purpose is unknown.  The plant flowers all year, with clusters of 3 or 4 pinkish blooms along the length of the shoots.  The ovaries form these bizarre, horned fruits that start out lime-green, then turn pink, and finally white.  They are 1½ inches across and are fleshy & moist, quite unlike most Begonias, which have dry capsules.  It might be able to cross-breed with some other Begonia species, to create new & interesting hybrids.

It likes conditions favored by cool- and intermediate-temperature Orchids, which is to say about 60 to 78 degrees F (18-26°C) during the day, and 50 to 70°F (16-21°C) at night.  I have no experience with it outside those temperatures.  It's possible that high heat might stress it, especially if nights are warm.  I don't think it can survive frost.  It likes a loose, well-draining soil mix, preferably with some fine-grade bark or large perlite chunks mixed in.  Try to keep the soil evenly moist (but not soggy).  It likes bright, filtered light, and will probably need protection from strong afternoon sun.  Over about 50% humidity is best for this cloud forest plant.