Dahlia Bright Eyes

The Dahlia 'Bright Eyes' is a stunning variety of landscape Dahlia with a unique personality, both very natural and brilliant: at the top of its dark stems sway large single and tricoloured flowers, with intense fuchsia pink, illuminated by an almost white halo around a beautiful golden heart. They stand out beautifully above gorgeous dark green foliage, blooming from July to November, for a constantly renewed visual pleasure. It will easily find its place in a perennial or low bush border, and its flowers are gorgeous in a country bouquet.

Dahlias are part of the Asteraceae family and are initially from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties created by humans have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens worldwide. They are herbaceous plants perennial by their underground tubers that rest during the winter.

The 'Bright Eyes' variety was registered in 1981 the United States. It is a Dahlia classified in the 'landscape' category, characterised by large single flowers. The flowering plant will reach approximately 60-70 cm (24-28in) in height and 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) in width. The single flowers of 'Bright Eyes' have a diameter of about 8 cm (3in). The nine outer ligules, which form a corolla, have a vibrant colour that evolves slightly depending on the maturity of the head. Their almost white base at the opening gradually tints with golden yellow, contrasting with a wide fuchsia-pink border. The tiny fertile flowers at the centre make up a disc of golden yellow colour—the flowering repeats from July until the frosts. The habit is bushy and erect. The branching stems are hollow, and the leaves are opposite, ternate, dividing them into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves are dark green, and the slender stems are tinged with purple.

To encourage repeat flowering, remove faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining them with other varieties. With its vibrant flowering, the Dahlia 'Bright Eyes' alone builds, and beautifully, the decor of a dedicated border or even that of a large glazed pot on the terrace. But it also blends well with the dark foliage of silver candles, Amaranthus Velvet Curtains, physocarpus. In borders, this Dahlia will create colourful and bright spots among perennials that bloom at the same time: for example, groups of Echinaceas, light blue or mauve Asters (Aster cordifolius, Aster turbinellus, Aster novi-belgii Marie Ballard...). It will be magnificent next to a Caryopteris or a Ceratostigma willmottianum. Its flowers are, of course, beautiful in bouquets.

As a star plant in borders and herb gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers but are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. But its poor taste qualities have relegated it to the rank of ornamental plant.