Small leaves in deep olive green, each with a soft, silvery green stripe running down the middle, shingling and trailing over the edge of the pot: the Trailing Watermelon Begonia (Pellionia repens) gets its nickname from that watermelon rind pattern. Despite the name it isn't a true begonia, but the care is very similar, and its rosy stems add a lovely warm note against the foliage.

In the wild it creeps across the shady, humid floors of Southeast Asian rainforests, which makes it a natural for terrariums and bottle gardens. This little one is the perfect size to tuck into a glass jar, a shelf display or a small hanging pot, where it will slowly spill over the edge. Snip a few trails now and then to keep it full and bushy; the cuttings root easily, so you can start more plants of your own.

Care at a glance

Light: Bright, indirect light, within a couple of metres of a north, east or west facing window. Keep out of direct sun, which scorches its delicate leaves. Too little light makes it leggy and sparse.

Water: This one is thirsty and doesn't like to dry out. Keep the compost lightly moist, letting just the top third dry between waterings, and water a little less in winter. Water into the compost rather than over the leaves, and never leave it sitting in water.

Humidity: Loves a little extra humidity, so a bright kitchen or bathroom, a pebble tray or a terrarium all suit it well. Keep it away from radiators and draughts.

Warmth and feeding: Happiest at around 15 to 24°C. Feed with a balanced houseplant food every few waterings in spring and summer, and less often in winter.

Pet note: Listed as non toxic to cats and dogs, though plants aren't food, so it's still best not to let pets graze on it.

Supplied in a plastic nursery pot. As a living plant, each one is unique, and the pattern on yours may vary slightly from the photos.