Dahlia Campus

The Dahlia 'Campus' is a collarette type variety with soft shades and a romantic look. Obtained in Coutances in Normandy at the Campus Métiers Nature, holder of a very beautiful collection of dahlias, it produces opulent flowers with rounded petals, in peach colour, illuminated by pale yellow towards the centre around a golden yellow centre adorned with a collar of small wavy pink petals. Its endless flowering appeals to flower lovers and bees alike. Of medium stature, this plant is perfect in borders and its flowers are sublime in a vase.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 75,000 horticultural varieties created by humans have invaded, to our delight, gardens worldwide. The Dahlia is a perennial herbaceous plant due to its tuber, a reserve organ that allows it to rest and stay dry during the off-season.
The variety 'Campus' is classified among the Collarette Dahlias, a horticultural category defined by the flower shape. In this group, the colourful ligules of the head are arranged regularly in a crown, around a collar of small petals surrounding the central disc. The flowers of 'Campus' measure up to 10 cm in diameter. The flowering period is from July to October. The habit is bushy, with the plant reaching approximately 85 cm in height. The very branching stems are hollow, and the leaves are opposite, pinnatisect, meaning they divide into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are a bright green.

To encourage repeat flowering, be sure to deadhead the flowers, or better yet, create large colourful bouquets by combining it with other varieties. 'Campus' pairs particularly well with pink, apricot, or mauve flowers, or in all shades of yellow. Plant it alongside vertical or light flowers such as foxgloves and baby's breath, simple like Nepetas, or with romantic roses. The dark foliage of physocarpus or Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing' also enhance its softly coloured flowers.

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