Wondering if this begonia can provide you color for the entire garden season? Well, you are Surefire shootin' straight. The commercial landscape industry is showing the Southeast that this is one tough flower for home or business and the award-winning Surefire series is leading the way.

There are four colors in the series: Surefire Red, Rose, White and the newest is Cherry Cordial with high gloss chocolate leaves. They will reach about 24 inches tall with an equal spread. The look is almost hedge-like, suggesting mass planting will deliver a stunning look, and it does.

On the other hand, Surefire begonias are perfect for creating intricate combinations. The most unbelievable thing about the extended season of bloom is that this occurs in the full sun and also for those who are sun-challenged. Whatever location you have, the Surefire begonia will make you the garden expert.

They bloom best in fertile well-drained soil. You will see the commercial guys using prepared mixes in raised beds. I saw bags labeled with raised bed soil at the garden center this year. James Winter and the Eden Estate Management Team worked their magic at a palatial home near Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Two large, raised beds on either side of the front entrance featured Surefire Rose begonias with Diamond Snow euphorbias and Catlins Giant ajuga. Without official measurement, it appeared the begonias were doubling in size every two weeks and were dazzling in color from a distance. Surefire Rose has won 15 awards including Perfect Score at Oklahoma State University and University of Tennessee.

The team showcased the power of white at a property known as The Illges Woodruff House 1850. As you might expect from one of the premier wedding venues in Columbus, Georgia, white is and will always be, the color of the day. Throughout the growing season you will most always find hydrangeas in bloom. They begin with the smooth hydrangea, hydrangea arborescens, followed by oakleaf hydrangea quercifolia, and panicled hydrangea paniculata.

In addition, there are large sweeping beds of tall wood ferns and Japanese Holly ferns with white caladiums and Surefire White begonias. Surefire White has also won several awards including Perfect Score at University of Tennessee and Best of Breed at North Carolina State.

Surefire Red, which has been out the longest, has also won two dozen awards, including Perfect Score at Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University and University of Tennessee.

The Garden Guy wanted to take a lesson from son James so when Surefire Cherry Cordial made its debut, I also wanted to combine it with caladiums. I chose to go bold by partnering with Heart to Heart Clowning Around. This fancy leafed caladium has bright rose pink and cream, but with orange tones surrounding olive green veins. This was perfect to play off the dark chocolate foliage of Surefire Cherry Cordial begonias.

Surefire begonias are so easy. Incorporate controlled release fertilizer granules during soil preparation. There is no deadheading. Side dress with the controlled release granules in midsummer and enjoy. The sooner you get Surefire begonias planted, the longer you can enjoy them.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)

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