Dahlia Little Tiger

Dahlia Little Tiger is a decorative dwarf dahlia with exuberant flowering. It bears large double flowers, beautifully variegated with crimson red and white. They bring vibrancy to gardens and bouquets. Its flowers bloom from summer until the first frost, on a sturdy bush that does not require staking. This variety is perfect for sunny borders, pots, and bouquets.

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.

Little Tiger is a dwarf dahlia that will not exceed 50cm (20in) in all directions. It is also classified as a decorative dahlia, which is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head (what we generally call the flower) are rather wide and arranged in a regular spiral. They can be bent towards the stem or curled, for example. The round flowers of Little Tiger are 10cm (4in) in diameter. The numerous slightly concave ligules or petals are a bright carmine red colour with white tips. The golden heart of the flower is composed of tiny bright yellow flowers. Flowering takes place from July to October, or even November if the weather is mild. The habit is bushy and compact. The branched stems are hollow. The leaves are opposite and pinnately divided, meaning they are subdivided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are a bright, fairly intense green.

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

Little Tiger pairs well with delicate white blooms like chamomiles and white autumn asters (Aster pringlei 'Monte Cassino', A. ericoides f. prostratus 'Snow Flurry'). It can also be paired with the blue flowers of catmints, perennial flax, or delphiniums. With its compact habit and endless flowering, it works wonders in a border and a low bed, or in pots on patios and balconies. It can also be planted with annuals like cosmos, nemesia, and white-flowered snapdragons. Small grasses (Stipa tenuifolia, carex, molinia) are also excellent companions.

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.