Dahlia Berger's Record

Dahlia 'Berger's Record' is a classic in the world of horticulture. It is a beautiful variety that was introduced in 1964 and still beloved by gardeners worldwide. It stands out in summer when it is adorned with magnificent double flowers in a vibrant bright red colour, perched like exotic birds on long stems. Their narrow and curled petals give them the appearance of large, tousled and prickly pompons, emerging from a medium-sized bushy clump, dressed in dark green foliage. It is an excellent bedding plant. Its cut flowers are perfect for bouquets, even late in the season.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. There are currently thousands of horticultural varieties that have conquered gardens worldwide. They are tender perennials with fleshy tubers.

'Berger's Record' forms a bushy clump that reaches a height of 1m (3ft) and a width of 60cm (24in) in just 3 to 4 months. This cultivar is classified as a semi-cactus dahlia, a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head only partially curl up for at least 1/3 of their length. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October. The bright red heads measure 13cm (5in) in diameter. They are easy to match with other shades in the garden. Its habit is bushy and upright, with strong, branched and hollow green stems. Its leaves are opposite, pinnately divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are dark green.

Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms. You can use cut flowers to make colourful bouquets, combining them with other varieties.

'Berger's Record' complements the delicate pastel blooms of phlox paniculata, Salvia leucantha, campanulas, cosmos, and Verbena hastata. It also pairs particularly well with the wine-coloured plumes of foxgloves, castor oil plants, and large daisies. Echinaceas, heleniums, and foxtail barley make wonderful companions in a border. Combine it with sedums and miscanthus for a unique display.

Dahlias are stars of borders and ornamental gardens, confidently accompanying the most beautiful flowers. However, they are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste qualities quickly saw it categorised as an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.