Dahlia Esther

Dahlia 'Esther' is a particularly bright dwarf variety, and its endless flowering is both colourful and refined. From summer to frost, it bears flowers with a diameter of 10cm (4in). They are composed of golden yellow petals, adorned with a central crown of tiny petals ranging from orange to red, surrounding a yellow heart. It has good resistance to bad weather. This variety has a bushy and compact habit that makes it suitable for the forefront of flower beds or borders. It is beautiful 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. They are tender perennials with fleshy tubers.

'Esther' is a dwarf dahlia that will not exceed 50cm (20in) in all directions. It is classified among the collarette dahlias, which is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head are regularly arranged in a crown around a collar of tiny petals surrounding the central disc. The flowers of 'Esther' have outer ligules of a fairly soft golden yellow, with those in the centre displaying a blood orange shade. The golden heart of the flower makes it even brighter. The flowering period is from July to October. It has a bushy and compact habit that does not require staking. The branched stems are hollow. The leaves are opposite and pinnate, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 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. 

'Esther' pairs particularly well with blue flowers and silver foliage. This dahlia will create colourful spots in the front of flower beds, alongside echinaceas, for example, which bloom at the same time, as well as daylilies and asters. This modest-sized variety is particularly suited to 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.