Dahlia Isadora

Dahlia 'Isadora' is a semi-cactus variety. The voluminous heads are adorned with fine ligules of yellow tinged with salmon or purple. The dahlias' flowers succeed each other from summer to the first frost. It develops a dense bush. The cut flowers are sublime in bouquets.

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

'Isadora' reaches 100cm (39in) in height and 60cm (24in) in width. The branched stems are hollow. The leaves are divided into 3 or 5 denticulate leaflets. The stems and leaves are medium green. The plant has a bushy habit. As it is a tall variety, care should be taken to broaden its width to strengthen it. The flowers of the semi-cactus dahlias are fully double, and are halfway between cactus dahlias and decorative dahlias. The ligules are not turbinate along their entire length and offer a less bristly appearance than the typical cactus dahlia. They can be straight or slightly involute (bent upwards or towards the heart of the flower). The flowers measure 15cm (6in) in diameter or more, and they are sun yellow with purple tinges. The central florets form a bud while they are not yet fully ripe.

The flowering begins in July and ends in November. Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms and extend the flowering period. You can also cut the stems to create beautiful bouquets by combining various varieties.

These dahlias will create colourful spots in the middle of beds, planted alongside large rudbeckias, heleniums, cosmos, or even sedums. Use Pennisetum villosum to bring softness and delicacy to the setting.