Rex begonia vine

* Common name: Rex begonia vine

* Botanical name: Cissus discolor

* What it is: Not a begonia at all but a tender, grape-family vine with eye-grabbing, heavily-variegated, elongated heart-shaped leaves of silver and green. Leaves also have hints of rose, and veins and stems are deep rose-colored. Beautiful but hard to find in the retail trade.

* Size: Climbs via tendrils about 6 to 10 feet up a support.

* Where to use: Prefers shade or part shade. Grow up string, netting or a trellis on a shady patio or to soften any bare wall along the east or north house foundation. Does well in pots.

* Care: These aren’t frost-hardy, so wait until mid to late May to plant. Cut back sharply, pot and move inside if you want to keep for another year. Otherwise, yank and compost when frost kills the plant in fall. Occasional balanced granular fertilizer is helpful but usually not necessary. Water twice a week for the first few weeks then weekly when dry the rest of the season. Overly long arms can be pinched back as needed.

* Great partner: Pink or white impatiens make a good annual-flower underplanting. Try white alyssum in part-sun settings.