A brand new begonia with large, uniquely colored dark leaves has arrived! Judges were impressed with how the deep bronze/brown color remained sharp and intense throughout the season, no matter where they were located; north, south, east or west. The color tones shine through to give a stunning garden appearance. Covered with vibrant red flowers, the compact plant retains its shape well and does not become rangy. “Given the options, I would choose this variety for my landscape beds.” states a judge who plans beds for a public garden. “This year’s weather seemed unusually conducive to disease on large-leaf begonias but none of these plants were affected” states another judge. These extra-large (XL) mounded plants are perfect in both landscapes and containers.
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Transplant Begonias after all danger of freezing temperatures have passed and soil temperatures are above 65°F (19°C). Do not bury the crown of the plant into the soil, but keep the stems above the soil level. Plant in well-drained soil with adequate moisture. Water the new transplants every one to three days depending on rainfall. Plant in sun or partial shade. For extra protection of the root system and to preserve moisture, mulch with bark chips, straw or compost. Fertilize with a general all-purpose plant food every 1 – 2 weeks until rooted into the soil, then every 2 weeks. Click here for in-depth culture guide.
- “The outstanding attribute of this variety was definitely the darker foliage.”
- “WOW!!! The foliage on this entry was AMAZING!”
- “Great color, no doubt that this is a bronze-leaf begonia!”
- “At first I thought it was just another Begonia, but the more we got into the season the more I saw it had beautiful strong darker leaves from the other ones. Stands out well and has a good bloom.”
- “Transplanted better and looked great in the garden all summer.”
- “This entry had excellent season-long performance in the garden, looks fantastic even at the end of the year.”
Hannah Sadosky –
This is one of my new favorites in the garden. If you like Dragon Wing Begonia, add this to your lineup.
The contrast of foliage to flowers is striking.
Jeni Cullen, Eden Park, Cincinnati, OH –
Viking XL is a very easy and beautiful begonia to grow. It doesn’t seem fussy about where it’s planted, doesn’t require much care beyond watering, and makes a bold statement in the garden.
Jeanne Hugenbruch –
Absolutely gorgeous! Can’t wait to take this indoors to brighten up our living room. Simple to grow and care for, it grew this much in just under 4 months. It’s a keeper!