Dahlia Ice Breaker

The Dahlia 'Ice Breaker' is a variety of giant Dahlia that will charm with its enormous very double flowers, slightly ruffled, combining white and pale yellow. The plant, of rather compact stature, blooms from summer to autumn. Pair it in your flowerbeds and floral compositions with light flowers like baby's breath or white cleomes.

The 'Ice Breaker' Dahlia, recently bred in the Netherlands, is a seedling of the 'Break Out' dahlia. Dahlias, from the aster family, are distant descendants of species originating from the high plateaus of Mexico.

The 'Ice Breaker' variety is classified in the group of Dahlias known as "giants" because its flowers are as wide as a plate. It also belongs to the Decorative Dahlias, 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 fringed for example. The Dahlia 'Ice Breaker' develops stems of around 1 m in height. Flowering begins in July and ends in October. The "flowers" are actually inflorescences called capitula. The outermost "petals" or ligules are quite large, flat, those in the centre are smaller and partially rolled. Their colour ranges from pale yellow to ivory white. The habit is bushy and erect, and the very branching stems are hollow. Its leaves are opposite, pinnatisect, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are of a fairly dark green.

To promote flower renewal, remove faded ones or regularly cut them to create gorgeous bouquets by combining several varieties. 'Ice Breaker' pairs particularly well with the light panicles of 'Bristol Fairy' baby's breath and white cleomes 'White Queen'. Also, pair it with the giant dahlias 'Tartan' or 'Blith Spirit' for a contrasting effect. In flowerbeds, it blends perfectly with white or yellow roses.

A star plant in borders and cottage gardens, Dahlias boldly 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 status of an ornamental plant.