秋海棠屬多年生草本，原產中美洲至南美洲北部。株高1~1.5m。地下有根莖。盾形葉圓形至倒卵形，長20~30cm、寬15~25cm，葉色綠有光澤，葉脈綠或紅色，葉脈基部或有不定芽生長。聚繖花序，雌雄異花，花白色至粉紅色，果實有3片翼，其中一片較大，以借風傳播。

A perennial herb in the genus Begonia, native to Central America to northern South America. Plant height 1~1.5m with underground rhizomes. Peltate leaves round to obovate, 20-30cm long and 15-25cm wide. Blade green and shiny, with green or red veins; adventitious buds occasionally grown at the base of veins. Cymes, dioecious, flowers white to pink. The fruit has 3 wings, the largest one is spread by wind.

半日照溫暖環境，高濕度生長良好。使用排水良好且富含有機質的培養土種植，不耐旱，介質略乾或觀察葉片萎軟就澆水。每季施用一次長效性綜合肥料。繁殖使用分株、葉插法。

The plant prefers warm, partial-sun and highly moist conditions. Use well-drained culture soil rich in organic matter for planting. Not drought-tolerant, water the soil when it slightly dries or the leaves show a sigh of wilting. Apply a slow-release compound fertilizer once a season. Propagated from divisions and leaf cuttings.

葉片寬大翠綠，可作為室內觀葉植物造景中作為背景與襯景使用，盆栽於室內窗邊栽培，能提供大面積的綠意。原產地將葉片作為藥用。

The plant is grown for the large green leaves which can be used as a filler for foliage plant interiorscaping, or as a potted planter grown next to indoor windowsills to provide a large space of greenery. The leaves are used for medicinal purposes in the native habitats.