Dahlia Showntell

The Dahlia Showntell is a superb variety with lace cactus flowers, offering particularly large flowers, and produced abundantly from late July until the frosts. Its beautiful bristly inflorescences have a very bright orange-red colour, pointed with yellow, which truly catches the eye. This medium-sized variety is suitable for the back of borders or for structuring a medium-height border. Its flowers are very long-lasting in bouquets.

Dahlias belong to the asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our greatest pleasure, gardens all over the world. They are non-hardy perennials with fleshy tubers. The 'Showntell' variety reaches a height of 80 cm (32in) to over 1 m (3ft), depending on the growing conditions, with a spread of 60 cm (24in). It is classified as a cactus dahlia, more precisely a lace cactus dahlia; it is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the colored ligules of the head completely coil, giving them a characteristic pointed appearance, and their tips seem to have been cut. The flowering of this variety begins late and ends in October-November. The heads measure 22 to 26 cm (9 to 10in) in diameter, and the ligules are reddish-orange with varying amounts of golden yellow. The habit is bushy and upright, and the very branched stems are hollow. Its leaves are opposite, pinnately compound, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are a bright medium green.

To extend the flowering period and promote repeat flowering, make sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly cut them to create attractive colourful bouquets by combining several varieties.

'Showntell' pairs particularly well with yellow flowers, especially sunflowers (annuals or perennials), tithonia (bright orange), and Hordeum jubatum (foxtail barley). In borders, it will blend perfectly with Echinaceas, Heleniums, and Cosmos, for example. With Sedum and miscanthus, it will also create a lovely and unique mix.

As the star plant of borders and ornamental gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers but are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuber was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. But its poor taste qualities relegated it to the status of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.