Dahlia Yvonne

The 'Yvonne' camellia-flowered Dahlia is a vigorous variety, quite rare in cultivation, offering adorable double flowers full of freshness. Of medium size, slightly flattened, they resemble waterlilies. Their colour is a very fresh medium pink in the centre, with the peripheral petals being lighter and tinted with salmon pink. This dahlia with its beautiful dark green-grey foliage has a long summer flowering period, overflowing with charm until the first frost, perfect for adding a romantic and feminine touch to borders or in bouquets.

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 arrived, to our greatest pleasure, in gardens worldwide. Varieties of Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their heads. 'Yvonne' is a Dahlia from the decorative group with camellia-like flowers. The terminal inflorescences, called heads, are carried by dark stems. They are composed of several rows of almost flat outer ligules, slightly curled. The heads are regular and generally measure 8 to 9 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter. The outermost ligules are more or less pale pink to soft salmon pink, while those in the centre are a brighter, more vibrant pink. The small yellow centre of the flowers only appears late, just before fading. The plant will easily reach a height of more than 1.20 m (4ft) and a width of 60 cm (24in). It has an erect habit, and its tall stems often require staking. Its beautiful dark green leaves are divided into finely toothed lobes. 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, essential in gardens, whether ornamental or even in vegetable gardens, Dahlias were initially cultivated in Mexico as a root vegetable. Their poor taste qualities quickly relegated them to the status of ornamental plants, but they are still welcome in vegetable gardens to add a splash of color amidst the vegetables. 'Yvonne' is a tall plant that can be used to structure elevated borders, and can be paired with purple foliage, for example (Cotinus Royal Purple, Physocarpus 'Red Baron', Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'). It particularly goes well with blue, plum, or even chocolate-coloured flowers.