Dahlia Barbarossa

Dahlia 'Barbarossa' is a decorative variety that bears enormous double flowers with a round and flat shape. They boast a dazzling shade of scarlet red. They are borne on long stems over 1m (3ft) high, causing a fantastic scene at the back of flower beds from summer to the first frosts. This old variety is a favourite with fans of beautiful red blooms.

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.

'Barbarossa' was introduced in 1936. It will quickly form a lush clump about 1.2m (4ft) tall and 60cm (24in) wide. It is 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 are regularly arranged in a spiral. They can be curved towards the stem or tubular, for example. The flowers of 'Barbarossa' have a diameter between 20 and 25cm (8 and 10in). The petals or ligules are very wide, slightly curled on themselves, and gracefully fall towards the stem. The flowering period is from July to October. The habit is bushy and dense. The branched stems are hollow, and the leaves are opposite and pinnately divided into 3 or 5 lobes with toothed edges. The stems are dark purple in colour and the leaves are a beautiful bluish green.

Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms.

'Barbarossa' puts on a wonderful show. Its glowing flowers will be enhanced by understated shades and light flowers. Plant it in flower beds with grasses (stipa, miscanthus, Hordeum jubatum, panicum), or asters (Aster ageratoides 'Ashvi', A. laevis 'Calliope', A. turbinellus). It can be grown in a large pot to enjoy its exceptional flowers on patios and balconies. Its cut flowers will be ideal for creating a beautiful arrangement with red or white snapdragons, fern leaves, large daisies, and white roses, for example.