Dahlia Berliner Lemon

Dahlia 'Berliner Lemon' is a dwarf decorative variety with flowers that are quite large compared to the size of the plant. The double flowers are filled with pointed petals, perfectly arranged in a rosette. They come in a pale-yellow colour, enhanced by a lemon-yellow heart. They bloom from summer until the first frost. This variety is perfect in flower beds, borders, and pots, creating a beautiful luminous effect that lasts until autumn.

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.

'Berliner Lemon' is a dwarf dahlia that doesn't exceed 50cm (20in) in height and width. It is also classified as a decorative dahlia, which is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the colourful ligules of the flower head are regularly arranged in a spiral, and they can be bent towards the stem or even curled. The flowers of 'Berliner Lemon' are 12cm (5in) in diameter. They bloom from July to October. The plant has a bushy and compact habit that does not usually require staking. The highly branched stems are hollow, and the leaves are opposite and pinnately divided into 3 or 5 deeply toothed lobes. In this variety, both the leaves and stems are a medium green colour.

Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms. You can use cut flowers to make colourful bouquets, combining them with other varieties.

In the garden, 'Berliner Lemon' pairs well with daylilies like 'Snowy Apparition' and ornamental grasses like Hordeum jubatum or small stipa grasses. Plant it at the front of flower beds with echinaceas that bloom at the same time. It also goes well with daylilies and asters. This modest-sized variety is ideal for container gardening.

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.