Dahlia Siemen Doorenbos

The Dahlia 'Siemen Doorenbos' is a variety of anemone-flowered dahlia whose flower is reminiscent of the charm and refinement of Japanese anemones, with which it could form beautiful associations. Not very tall but generous, the plant does not require staking and produces an abundance of precious flowers in a slightly mauve pink adorned with a tight and crumpled heart of white-cream colour, sometimes touched with violet and yellow. This old variety, now difficult to find in horticultural trade, always seduces with the spontaneity of its flowering, which extends from summer to the first frost. Perfect in a romantic garden!

Dahlias are herbaceous plants with tubers from the large family of asteraceae. They are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the roughly 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded gardens worldwide. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flower. Introduced in 1943, 'Siemen Doorenbos' is classified in the category of decorative Dahlias with anemone-like flowers. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head are arranged in pompoms and surrounded by a collar of wider petals. In this Siemen Doorenbos variety, the heads are 10 cm (4in) in diameter and the outermost ligules are tubular, arranged in a simple collar of lavender-pink colour. Those in the centre are shorter, slightly fringed, white-cream tinged with yellow at the base. They turn purple-violet at the tip and are tightly packed together like a small cushion. The flowering takes place from the end of June to October. The plant will reach about 60 cm (24in) in height, with a bushy and dense habit. The very branched stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite and divided into denticulate leaflets. The leaves and stems are of a medium green colour.

To promote new blooms and extend the flowering period, make sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly create attractive, colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. Emphasise the romantic and precious character of this 'Siemen Doorenbos' variety by associating it with asters, Japanese anemones, fine grasses, Calamagrostis, Eragrostis, Stipa pennata, or Molinia. The flowering of cannas and Echinaceas is perfect when accompanied by Dahlias, as they occur simultaneously, as well as the flowering of cosmos or shrubby salvias.

As the star of cottage gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers. They are perfect in flowerbeds but can also enhance the vegetable garden. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste relegated it to the rank of ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.