Dahlia Knock Out / Mystic Illusion

Dahlia 'Knock Out' or 'Mystic Illusion', is a very recent New Zealand variety. The compact vegetation presents an interesting contrast of colours. The heads are single, tinted with pale yellow finely veined with purple-brown, the small heart in the centre is brown-gold. All this is carried by solid and surprisingly dark leafy stems, of a chocolate to almost black purple colour. An unclassifiable, innovative and disease-resistant variety, as beautiful from a distance, abundant in a bed, as fascinating observed up close, immersed in a vase!

Dahlias belong to the aster family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the few 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have arrived in gardens all over the world, for our greatest pleasure.  The 'Knock Out' variety is a Dahlia with dark foliage that will reach 80 to 90 cm (32 to 35in) in height and 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) in width. Single, the heads are medium-sized. The outermost ligules are light yellow and are covered, particularly on their lower surface, with pretty reddish veins. The tiny flowers in the center form a fairly dark brown disc, adorned with orange stamens. Flowering occurs from July to October. The habit is bushy and compact. The very branched stems are hollow and the opposite leaves are divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are of a very original colour, bronze, purple, chocolate, almost black, and really enhance the colour of the heads. This variety often does not require staking.

To encourage repeat flowering, be sure to cut off faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining it with other varieties. 'Mystic Illusion' pairs particularly well with the 'Classic Elise' variety (also with dark foliage) and the grey foliage of wormwoods (Powis Castle Wormwood, Lambrook Silver Artemisia absinthium) or the dark needles of certain small conifers (Chirimen Hinoki Cypress, Juniperoides Hinoki Cypress). In beds, this exceptional Dahlia will form colorful and bright spots alongside Echinaceas, for example, which bloom at the same time, as well as blue or purple Asters with light flowering. Its flowers are of course magnificent 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 initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. But its poor taste qualities assigned it the status of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.