Viking begonias are ready to conquer the garden.
It is easy to see why gardeners can’t resist begonias, with their dangling blossoms and spectacular foliage.
We love varieties like Big Begonia, Whopper Begonia and Tophat. Dragon Wing takes the throne when it comes to hanging baskets.
And now we have something new: Viking begonias. These have been the jaw-droppers at all of the trials this summer. There are eight standard varieties — plus four that are dubbed XL. You may have heard of Viking Red on Chocolate XL; it’s a 2019 All-American Selections Winner.
At AAS trials, which always seem like an ocean of color, begonias typically have an uphill battle stealing the limelight from plants like lantanas, zinnias and salvias — but that was not the case this year.
The Viking series of begonias is coming from Sakata Seed, which also brought us SunPatiens. In a similar fashion, these begonias are packed with vigor and performance. The eight regular selections should reach a height of 20 to 24 inches with a spread of 24 to 28 inches. The XL group takes on a frame similar to a dwarf azalea, reaching 28 to 34 inches tall with a width of 32 to 36 inches — or should we say, 3 feet!
The rows of these begonias at trials were uniform and stunning and seemed to be the gathering place of greenhouse producers, garden center owners and professional designers. The consensus was, “I want it, and I want it now.”
But it will be next year before most of us get our hands on these beauties. As for the AAS winner, Red on Chocolate XL, seeds are already on the market, but 99.5 percent of us have never grown a begonia from seed.
Keep an eye out when you visit your garden center, you never know how soon they might be available.
The series includes three leaf colors: bright green, bronze and chocolate. The foliage is so luscious you want to touch it. While I have touted the size of the plants, know also that the flowers are enormous and colorful with rose, pink, scarlet and coral flame. Judges were impressed with how the deep bronze of this year’s winner remained sharp and intense no matter what area of the country it was grown.
Whether you choose to grow begonias in sun or partial-sun, the soil should be fertile, organic-rich and well-drained. Work in 3 to 4 inches of organic matter, turning the soil to a depth of about 8 inches. While tilling, add 2 pounds of a slow-release, 12-6-6 fertilizer with minor nutrients per 100 square feet of bed space.
These plants are ever-blooming and can form a dwarf shrublike appearance. Mass plantings create stunning vistas. They will also dazzle standing alone in large containers on the porch patio or deck.
I’m looking forward to combining them with bananas, gingers and elephant ears for a tropical paradise. Hey, Sakata, I want them now!