That looks more like B. 'Escargot'. Nice plant.

They are very similiar....both Rex cultorums, but Princess of Hanover is a mutant of Queen of Hanover. Still not my coveted Escargot, I'm afraid.

=( Kathleen

i read an article on this begonia some time ago and wondered what it looked like--never got around to looking it up and now i know! thanks for sharing,

-ming

mkjones, how do you distinguish between the two? I can't seem to find any photos online of the princess but lots of Escargot that look just like this one!

What should I look for when distinguishing between the two?

moo

It IS hard to find info online on this one--I know, believe me! ;-) Here's a few links that I did come across: scroll ALL the way down on this 1st one, http://www.stbegonias.com/begonias.htm, http://www.dibleys.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Rex_type_Begonias__30.html

What drew me TO this one was the incredible likeness that reflected the Escargot so much! =)

Here is a link that might be useful: Princess of Hanover listing

I'm also wondering what the difference is. Since you grow both, could you post a picture of the two side by side? Ever since the patented hybrid, B. 'Escargot', was released, European begonia growers have been saying that it is really B. 'Princess of Hanover', which has been around for a while. They accuse the Dutch "hybridizer" of patenting an existing plant, as he apparently did with B. 'Bulls Eye' as well.

Oh, alas, I don't grow both. Haven't been able to acquire the Escargot yet. Fascinating info on that Dutch hybridizer, Begoniac. Shame on the hybridizer if that IS indeed the case.....

Kathleen

Beeeeeeaaaaaautiful!

I've got an Escargot, it looks _just_ like what you have posted. Given that, does this mean I can dub my snail as a Princess and grow a cutting for my mother?

Rh

That's quite a promotion, Rh--"snail to princess!" lol Honestly, I do not know....there has been alot of discussion as to whether they are, indeed, one and the same. I asked a wonderful grower who offered to contact the "Patent Police" about the matter. I'll have to check back w/him to see if anything came of it. Other than that....I haven't the slightest.

I WOULD love to get to the bottom of it, however. I have also posted the Princess bloom--anyone out there w/an Escargot? What is the bloom like? Let's compare the two!!

Kathleen