Dahlia Marble Ball

Dahlia 'Marble Ball' offers truly unique flowers, which are both charming and opulent. They are truly one-of-a-kind, resembling large, round balls, entirely striated and streaked with garnet and purple on a cream-white background. This award-winning variety will make a statement in a bed of perennials or annuals with light flowers, and will add another dimension to homemade bouquets, even late in the season.

Dahlias belong to the large family of Asteraceae, originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded gardens all over the world, much to our delight. Dahlia varieties are classified based on the shape of their heads. 'Marble Ball' is a Dahlia from the decorative group with ball-shaped flowers. In this category, the heads have no visible centre and are composed of numerous regularly arranged and completely rolled up petals (ligules), tubular and never flaring out. It includes varieties that form true balls, such as pompoms (diameter less than 6cm (2in)) and balls (diameter greater than 6cm (2in)). The heads of this 'Marble Ball' variety generally measure 10cm (4in) in diameter. The ligules are entirely marbled and randomly streaked with purple, and the centre of the inflorescence appears garnet, almost violet. The plant will reach a height of about 90cm (35in) to 1m (3ft) and a width of 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in), depending on the growing conditions. It has an upright habit and its stems sometimes require staking. Its green leaves are divided into denticulate lobes. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if faded flowers are removed or bouquets are made frequently.

Today, Dahlias are essential in gardens, whether it be ornamental gardens or even vegetable gardens. Initially cultivated in Mexico as a root vegetable, their poor taste quickly relegated them to the status of ornamental plants, but they are still welcome in vegetable gardens to bring some colour amidst the vegetables. 'Marble Ball' is an exceptional flower that can be used as a focal plant in raised beds, alongside pink or white cosmos or white asters, for example. It can also be paired with foliage plants like fennel or purple-leaved varieties (Cotinus 'Royal Purple', Physocarpus 'Red Baron', Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'). Its cut flowers, trimmed very short and placed in a shallow bowl surrounded by grapevines and clusters of black grapes, will work wonders on an autumn table.