Dahlia Vanessa
Dahlia Vanessa
Dahlia Vanessa
Ornamental Dahlia
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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty
More information
We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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Description
Dahlia 'Vanessa' is a dwarf decorative dahlia that offers a rare combination with its large flowers borne on a truly compact plant. It is an ideal variety for ornamenting borders and flowering containers. The colour of its flowers, a bright pink washed with cream at the centre, is luminous without being garish, and easy to combine with other hues. From July until the first frosts, you can enjoy it in the garden, on the patio, or in numerous cut flower arrangements.
Belonging to the large dahlia family, 'Vanessa' is a tuberous perennial from the Asteraceae family.
'Vanessa' belongs to the group of decorative dahlias, characterised by very double heads, without an apparent disc, with wide and relatively flat, sometimes slightly recurved ligules. It is more specifically classified among dwarf decorative dahlias, or border dahlias, selected for their low, well-ramified habit. In the 'Vanessa' variety, the clump reaches 50 to 60 cm in height with a spread of 30 to 40 cm, with thick and sturdy stems that support the weight of the flowers well. The flowers in heads, composed of several regular ranks of slightly pointed ligules, measure between 10 and 12 cm in diameter, sometimes up to 15 cm. Their colour displays a palette from pink to salmon pink, lighter towards the centre. For prolonged flowering from July to October, faded flowers must be regularly removed.
The foliage, a pure green, is divided into ovate leaflets with a dentate edge, and forms a dense cushion that covers the base well. The aerial vegetation is entirely deciduous: in autumn, stems and leaves blacken under the effect of the first frosts, the plant is then pruned and the tubercles are removed from the soil to overwinter them dry and frost-free. Selected in the Netherlands, Dahlia 'Vanessa' was introduced to the European horticultural market in the early 2000s.
In the garden, Dahlia 'Vanessa' is perfect for highlighting a path, the edge of a border, or enlivening a large container near the house. Its pink colour combines well with purple or bronze foliage, for example that of the dwarf dahlia ‘American Pie’ and Sedum 'Purple Emperor'. In a more romantic style, it can be paired with dahlias in apricot or salmon tones like ‘Zingaro’, and bordered with light perennials such as Nepeta Nova® 'Blue'. In a vase, its large corollas structure cut flower arrangements; they pair particularly well with white foxgloves, the plumes of a miscanthus and the umbels of the ornamental carrot 'Dara'.
The dahlia was introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 19th century, notably to France in 1802. Although its tubercles were first used as a starch, its ornamental qualities very quickly took precedence. Today there are thousands of cultivars that delight flower enthusiasts.
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Dahlia
Vanessa
Asteraceae
Ornamental Dahlia
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Dahlia 'Vanessa' is easy to grow in all regions. For abundant flowering, it is good to follow a few simple rules: plant it in full sun after the last frosts; rich, cool, and well-drained soils are perfect. However, stagnant moisture would encourage root rot. Do not hesitate to amend the soil with compost and sand if needed. Work the soil deeply and enrich it, for example, with ground horn or dried blood. After planting, water thoroughly once and then repeat this watering regularly for the first 6 weeks to aid rooting.
Dahlias are sensitive to cold and must be overwintered. In November, the first frosts blacken the foliage; this is the time to lift them. Carefully dig up the tubercles. Remove as much soil as possible. Allow the foliage to dry so the tubercles can replenish their reserves. Then cut the stems to 10 cm. Spread your bulbs in a crate on newspaper. Store them in a frost-free, dry, cool, and dark place, such as a frost-free garage or an attic.
In southern regions, near the coast, experiencing only a few frosty days per year, it is possible to leave them in place. In this case, simply cover the soil with a carpet of leaves or straw as protection.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:- In zones 9 to 10 (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), flowering will occur about 2 to 4 weeks earlier.
- In zones 6 to 7 (Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and lower mountainous regions), flowering will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks.
- In zone 5 (Central Europe, Scandinavia), blooming will be delayed by 3 to 5 weeks.
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
- In Mediterranean zones (Marseille, Madrid, Milan, etc.), autumn and winter are the best planting periods.
- In continental zones (Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, etc.), delay planting by 2 to 3 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 2 to 4 weeks in autumn.
- In mountainous regions (the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, etc.), it is best to plant in late spring (May-June) or late summer (August-September).
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.