Arnold Van Peteghem and his family produce more than 7 million begonia tubers each year.

Not far over the Dutch border in Belgium, you'll find a truly spectacular summer sight: row after row of enormous Prima Donna Begonias on the farm of Arnold Van Peteghem.

The Van Peteghem family has been in the business of hybridizing and growing begonias for three generations. They have about 100 acres in production, and produce more than 7 million begonia tubers each year.

Arnold Van Peteghem began working in the business during the 1960s, and his horticultural training included attending college in Belgium, Montana, Philadelphia and Princeton. He has also worked in nurseries in both California and Virginia.

In addition to producing regular tuberous begonias, Van Peteghem has set up a program to grow Pacific Hybrids, a strain of begonias originally developed in California during the 1950s by world famous hybridizer Frank Reinelt. They have a uniform growth habit and giant, long-lasting flowers on sturdy stems.

In breeding begonias, Van Peteghem is striving for larger flowers with classical geometric proportions, sturdy foliage, and uniformity in overall size for good performance in containers. He has a special interest in developing more highly ruffled blooms in soft salmon and bright pastel shades. Van Peteghem's line of hanging basket begonias, known as Sensation, have been recognized as one of the very best improved begonia varieties available today. The sturdy plants have fully double blooms and are ideal for baskets and urns.