Dahlia Miracle Purple

Dahlia 'Miracle Purple' is a beautiful plant that produces an abundance of rather modest-sized flowers that are remarkably colourful. This variety bears charming fuchsia-pink flowers, beautifully enhanced by a golden yellow heart that attracts pollinating insects. The plant blooms from July to the first frosts, bringing a cheerful touch to sunny beds. 

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.

'Miracle Purple' is classified as a single-flowered dahlia. It is composed of a crown of wide and flat petals revealing a yellow heart. The plant will reach a minimum height of 1m (3ft) in one season and a width of 50cm (20in). The flowers of 'Miracle Purple' develop 2 rows of fuchsia-pink "petals" or ligules. They are 9cm (4in) in diameter. The tiny fertile flowers in the centre form a visible golden disc. The flowering period occurs from July to October. The habit is bushy and erect. The highly branched stems are hollow. The leaves are opposite and pinnately compound, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are dark green.

Unlike the huge double capitula of many varieties, those of 'Miracle Purple' are welcoming to bees and butterflies.

Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms. 

'Miracle Purple' pairs particularly well with purple foliage or the grey of wormwood (Artemesia 'Powis Castle, A. absinthium 'Lambrook Silver'). It also complements the blue flowers of perennial geraniums. This dahlia will create colourful spots in flower beds alongside light-flowered blue or mauve asters. Its flowers are magnificent in bouquets, but they do not last as long as those of varieties with large double blooms.

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.