Dahlia Platinum Blonde

The  Dahlia 'Platinum Blonde' is a recent variety of robust, prolific, and refined anemone-flowered dahlia. It produces medium-sized bicoloured heads, composed of a simple white collar where a large cushion of tender yellow florets nestles, tending towards ivory. It blooms a little earlier than other varieties, from summer to autumn, at the top of a bushy clump. Proud in borders, this dahlia has enough distinction and personality to accompany tall perennials and flowering bushes without overshadowing them. 

Dahlias are tuberous plants of the large Asteraceae family, originally native to the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our pleasure, gardens all over the world. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flowers. Introduced in 2007, in the same vein as 'Blue Bayou' and 'Totally Tangerine' but in pastel yellow, 'Platinum Blonde' is classified in the category of anemone-flowered decorative dahlias. In this group, the colourful ligules of the head are arranged in fringed pompoms, for example, and surrounded by a collar of wider petals. In this variety, the heads are 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter and the outermost ligules are almost flat, arranged in a simple collar. Those in the centre are shorter, tubular, and fringed, of a bright pale yellow, pressed against each other like a cushion. The flowering takes place from the end of June to October. The vigorous plant will easily reach 1.2 metres (4 feet), or even more in fertile soil, with a bushy and dense habit. The highly branched stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite and divided into 3 or 5 denticulate leaflets. The leaves and stems are of a fairly deep green.

To promote continuous blooming and extend the flowering period, make sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly compose attractive colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. This variety deserves to be highlighted by the light foliage of grasses such as Panicum, Molinia, and Calamagrostis. This combination will emphasise the contrast between the delicacy of the tall grasses and the assertiveness of the flower. The flowering of Cannas and Echinaceas is perfect as an accompaniment to that of Dahlias, as they occur simultaneously, as well as the flowering of cosmos or perennial salvias, for example.  

The star plant of ornamental gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers. They are perfect in flower beds but can also enhance vegetable gardens. In Mexico, this tuber was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste quickly relegated it to the status of an ornamental plant. Since then, interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.