Dahlia Gallery Sisley

The Dahlia Gallery Sisley, like all the varieties in the Gallery series, is a plant with a very compact habit, characterized by excellent floribundity, specifically developed for container and basket decoration. 'Sisley' captivates with its original flowers with a luminous appearance, fully double, displaying a magnificent shade of pink-lilac, lighter on the periphery, more purple towards the center of the flower and on the reverse of the petals. The spectacle of its flowering begins in June and ends with the first frosts. A beautifully coloured plant, easy to grow in a pot on the terrace or in a sunny border.

Dahlias, belonging to the aster family, are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. At present, the some 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, much to our delight, gardens all over the world.
The variety 'Gallery Sisley' is a dwarf dahlia related to Decorative and Cactus Dahlias. The plant will not exceed 40 cm (16in) in all directions, it has a bushy and compact habit, requiring no staking. The flowering of this variety takes place from June to October-November. The dense flower heads measure 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter and resemble pretty flattened and regular balls, composed of numerous rows of ligules slightly curved towards the stem and of a rich pink-lilac colour with nuances, almost purple at the center. At the end of flowering, the central disc becomes visible, yellow in colour. The very branched stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite and divided into 3 or 5 lobes with fine teeth. The leaves and stems are dark green.

 
To promote new flower growth and extend the flowering period, make sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly cut them to create attractive colourful bouquets by combining various varieties.

'Gallery Sisley', wonderful in a flowerpot, also thrives at the front of borders or in flowerbeds. It pairs particularly well with the foliage of grasses; the Pennisetum villosum, a lovely feathery grass, Hordeum jubatum (Foxtail Barley), or even Muhlenbergia capillaris will bring softness and delicacy to the setting. It also enjoys pink blooms, especially the plump buds of old roses or Generosa roses.

As a star plant in borders and herb gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers as well as the humble vegetables. They can be used to create beautiful flowering pots or charming bouquets. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was originally cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. However, its poor taste qualities relegated it to the status of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.