Dahlia Kid's Climax

The Kid's Climax Decorative Dahlia is a delicate giant with an absolutely indescribable colour. Its very double, very wide flowers are composed of countless ligules where pink, lavender, yellow, and cream blend together. These flowers, so coquettish despite their generous shape, bloom from June until the frost on a medium-sized bushy plant. This variety, which has won multiple awards and was chosen by professionals as one of the top 10 achievements of the 20th century, offers simply stunning flowers in bouquets and flower beds.

Dahlias belong to the asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the some 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our greatest pleasure, gardens all over the world. The 'Kid's Climax' variety, introduced in 1940, will reach approximately 1m (3ft) tall and 60cm (24in) wide, and it is classified among the giant decorative dahlias. This is a horticultural category defined by the shape and large size of the flower. In this group, the colored ligules of the capitulum are regularly arranged in a spiral, they can be curved towards the stem or even fringed, for example. The flowering of this variety begins in June and ends in October. The capitula can measure up to 25cm (10in) in diameter, the outer ligules are quite short, round, slightly curled, with a colour ranging from pink to cream, while those in the center are a bit more pink. The habit is bushy and upright, and the very branched stems are hollow. Its leaves are opposite, pinnately divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are dark green, a colour that enhances that of the flowers.

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

'Kid's Climax' pairs particularly well with blue or mauve blooms, especially those of perennial Anchusa, Delphiniums, and mealycup sages. In flower beds, it will perfectly match Echinaceas, gauras, and cleomes, for example. Paired with purple foliage (Acalypha obovata, Aeonium Zwartkop, Cimicifuga Black Beauty) or silver foliage and grasses like miscanthus or panicums, it will also create an original and elegant mix.

As a star plant for borders and cottage gardens, Dahlias confidently 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 assigned it the rank of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.