Dahlia Alstergruss

Dahlia 'Alstergruss' is a particularly radiant dwarf dahlia with truly exceptional flowers. From summer to frost, it bears bright orange flowers adorned with a central crown of tiny golden yellow petals surrounding a yellow heart. The flowers are approximately 10cm (4in) in diameter. Its bushy and compact habit withstands bad weather well, and the plant remains impeccable in the foreground of flower beds or in borders. This variety is simply sensational in pots.

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.

'Alstergruss' is a dwarf dahlia with ramified growth. It will not exceed 40cm (16in) in all directions. It is classified among the collerette dahlias, which is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the coloured ligules of the capitulum are regularly arranged in a crown around a collar of tiny petals surrounding the central disc. The flowers of 'Alstergruss' have true and pure orange outer ligules, and those in the centre are golden yellow. The golden heart of the flower makes it even brighter. Flowering takes place from July to October. The capitula are tightly packed together on abundant foliage. The habit is bushy and compact, requiring no staking. The highly branched stems are hollow. The leaves are opposite and pinnately lobed, meaning they divide into 3 or 5 very 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. 'Alstergruss' pairs particularly well with blue flowers and purple foliage. This dahlia will create colourful spots at the front of beds alongside Rudbeckia hirta, Salvia splendens, or echinaceas, for example, which bloom at the same time. It will also harmonise well with hemerocallis or asters. This modest-sized variety is particularly suited for pot cultivation on patios and balconies.

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.