Dahlia Belle of Barmera

Dahlia 'Belle of Barmera' is a giant variety with sumptuous flowers in shades of raspberry, peach, coral, and mauve. The impressive double blooms are full of fringed petals, and measure up to 25cm (10in) wide. It blooms from summer to autumn, on stems that can reach a height of 1.2m (4ft). Plant it in borders with delicate flowers, grasses, or foliage plants. It also makes stunning 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.

'Belle of Barmera' is classified as a giant dahlia because its flowers are as wide as a plate, its stems reach 1.2m (4ft) high, and it is 60cm (24in) wide. 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 are arranged regularly in a spiral. They can be curved towards the stem or fringed, for example. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October. The "flowers" are inflorescences called heads. The outermost "petals" or ligules are quite large and slightly turbinate, while those in the centre are more curled. Their raspberry-pink colour boasts coral-pink, orange, and mauve tones. It has a bushy and upright habit, and the highly branched stems are hollow. Its leaves are opposite and pinnately compound, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are a fairly bright green.

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

'Belle of Barmera' pairs particularly well with pink, mauve, brown, and black blooms. It blends perfectly with roses and echinaceas, for example. For an exotic touch that matches its colour and size, try it with cannas like 'Red King Humbert' with dark foliage.

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.