Dahlia Dark Angels Pulp Fiction

The  Dahlia 'Pulp Fiction' is part of a series of varieties selected for their small size, dark foliage, and small, abundant flowers in vibrant colors. These are vigorous, floriferous, and unique Dahlias, perfect for ornamenting borders and flower pots. The flowers of Pulp Fiction are bright vermilion red, marked with a small dark center, and they truly shine against a lovely cut foliage of almost blackish purple. It blooms early in the season and its flowers continue to bloom until the first frost. 

Dahlias belong to the asteraceae family and are originally native to the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties created by humans have invaded gardens around the world, much to our delight. The Dark Angels Dahlias, developed in the Netherlands, bear names that allude to successful American films such as "Braveheart," "Pretty Woman," "Star Wars," "Dracula," "American Pie," and our adorable "Pulp Fiction," a compact version of the beautiful cultivar 'Bishop of Llandaf'.

The variety 'Pulp Fiction' ('VDTG61'), the shortest of this collection, is a truly dwarf Dahlia, it will not exceed 30 cm (12in) in all directions. It is also classified as a decorative Dahlia called 'Mignon', which is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the 8 ligules or colored 'petals' of the capitulum (what we generally call the flower) are arranged in simple corollas around a central disk. The flowers of 'Pulp Fiction' have a diameter of less than 5 cm (2in). The peripheral ligules are a intense reddish-orange, very bright when they bloom, fading slightly over time. The initially very dark heart of the flower is composed of tiny flowers that bloom in a very bright yellow. The flowering period is from June-July to October, or even November if the weather is mild. The habit is bushy and compact, not requiring staking. The highly branched stems are hollow, and the leaves are opposite, pinnately divided into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves here are tinted a very dark purple, and the sun casts reflections of tin on them. The stems are also a very dark purple.

To promote flowering, take care to remove faded flowers, or better yet, regularly make large colorful bouquets by combining it with other compact varieties. 'Pulp Fiction' goes well with all the other Dark Angels varieties in flower pots and at the front of flower beds. Very colorful in both leaves and flowers, this Dahlia often stands on its own. However, you can still offer it a display of white and delicate flowers such as cosmos, Nemesia, white-flowered snapdragons, or Aster prostratus Snow Flurry, for example. Also consider small grasses like Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum, Stipa pennata and barbata, and Carex Comans bronze, which will add a beautiful touch of lightness and elegance to the ensemble. 

As a star plant for borders and herb gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers but are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. However, its poor taste qualities relegated it to the rank of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.