Dahlia Contessa

The  Decorative Dahlia 'Contessa' is a stunning plant that doesn't go unnoticed. The flowers of this variety resemble camellias or semi-double water lilies, with a light and vibrant red colour, intense, barely touched with orange in the centre. Its long flowering period is particularly brilliant in the garden, elegantly animating the back of flower beds and homemade bouquets from July to October.

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, much to our delight, gardens all over the world. Dahlia varieties are classified based on the shape of their heads. 'Contessa' is a decorative Dahlia with camellia-like flowers. The inflorescences are composed of several rows of almost flat outer ligules, barely curled upwards. The heads measure 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) in diameter. The outer ligules are a very solid red, while those in the centre are slightly variegated with orange. The plant will reach about 1.20 to 1.50 m (4 to 5ft) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width. It has a bushy habit. Its leaves are divided into highly denticulate lobes and are carried by stems with purple-tinted tips. The particularly long flowering period of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or frequently make bouquets.

Today, Dahlias are essential in gardens, but initially they were cultivated in Mexico as root vegetables. Their poor taste quickly relegated them to the rank of ornamental plants, but they are still welcome in vegetable gardens to bring some colour among the vegetables. 'Contessa' pairs particularly well with white flowers, golden foliage (Fuchsia magellanica 'Aurea', Choysia ternata 'Sundance'), and grasses (Hordeum jubatum, Pennisetum, Miscanthus) that are at their peak in autumn.