Recently, a post featuring the strikingly beautiful Begonia ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ plant went viral on social media, leaving plant lovers mesmerized by its dark leaves with intricate white veins. Shared on Facebook by the user “Farm Show” on August 26, the post described the plant’s care requirements and decorative potential, prompting thousands of reactions. However, despite the excitement it generated, the Begonia ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ is not real. The images circulating online were created using artificial intelligence (AI).
The Viral Facebook Post That Fooled Many
The viral post, which quickly amassed over 82,000 reactions and 6,000 shares, gave detailed instructions on how to care for the fictional plant. According to the post, the Begonia ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ thrives in bright, indirect light and requires consistently moist soil, without being overwatered. The post also recommended misting the leaves regularly to maintain the high humidity needed for the plant’s health. These seemingly authentic details helped sell the illusion that the plant was real.
In addition to plant care, the post emphasized the ‘Moonlight Butterfly’s’ decorative appeal, calling it perfect for adding drama and elegance to an indoor garden. The imagery used in the post showed a begonia with dark, captivating foliage that immediately drew attention from plant enthusiasts around the world.
AI-Generated Images and the Reality Behind the Hoax
Despite the viral excitement, several savvy social media users quickly pointed out that the Begonia ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ does not exist. Comments under the Facebook post highlighted that the images were AI-generated. Some users were initially fooled, asking where they could purchase seeds for this rare beauty, but others debunked the claims. One user noted, “Unfortunately you can’t, this plant is not real, this is a computer-generated fake photo.”
Another user explained how the images were created: “If you check out where the write-ups come from, they all trace back to this ‘Farm Show’ site and its operating company, pngland. Look deeper at more reputable sites talking about how these photos are AI.” It seems that the images of the fake ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ were derived from real plants, most notably the Begonia darthvaderiana x chlorosticta hybrid, a plant known for its dark leaves adorned with green or yellow spots.
Why the Begonia ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ Is a Hoax
The Begonia ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ appears to be a manipulated version of the Begonia darthvaderiana x chlorosticta hybrid, which boasts dark foliage and grows in high-humidity environments. The Facebook post describing the fictional ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ closely mirrored the care requirements of the real hybrid plant, simply altering the plant’s color and appearance for dramatic effect.
Best Lagos, a website that investigated the viral post, confirmed that the ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ is indeed fictional. The Begonia darthvaderiana x chlorosticta hybrid can grow up to 40 cm in height, with leaves measuring about 15 cm in length, and is best suited for humid environments, much like the care recommendations falsely provided for the AI-generated ‘Moonlight Butterfly.’
Other AI-Generated Plant Hoaxes
This isn’t the first time that the “Farm Show” Facebook page has tricked the internet with AI-generated plants. Other fake creations that have gone viral include the Giant Blue Bougainvillea Tree, the Rock Lotus ‘Pink Aurora,’ and the Jacaranda Tree, among others. These hoaxes have fooled many plant lovers eager to add rare and exotic species to their collections.
While AI-generated images can be visually stunning, they can also lead to confusion and false hopes for those seeking rare plants. The Begonia ‘Moonlight Butterfly’ is just one example of how AI can be used to create hoaxes that spread like wildfire on social media. As beautiful as these AI-generated plants may appear, it’s important for plant enthusiasts to verify their authenticity before investing time or money in a non-existent species.