Dahlia Caramel

The 'Caramel' Decorative Dahlia stands out among decorative dahlias with small flowers. This cultivar features warm shades of burnt orange, caramel, and gold, perfect for adding warmth to a bed or bouquet. With a long flowering period, it still complements the autumn colors in the garden. Its medium height is perfect for structuring a bed without overwhelming it, and it makes an excellent cut flower.

The Dahlias are tuberous plants that are not very hardy, belonging to the aster family, with inflorescences (the "flowers") actually being heads. Cultivars are classified based on the shape of their flowers. 'Caramel' is classified in the category of Decorative Dahlias, and in the sub-category of decorative dahlias with small flowers. In this group, the colourful "petals" or ligules of the head are arranged regularly in a spiral, they can be curved towards the stem or fringed, for example. In this 'Caramel' variety, the flattened heads measure 10-11 cm in diameter and their ligules are rather small, oval, concave, tightly packed. Flowering occurs from July to October-November. The plant reaches approximately 1.10 m in height, and 50 to 60 cm in width. The branched stems are hollow and the leaves are divided into 3 or 5 leaflets, which show toothed lobes. The leaves are a medium green and the stems are more or less reddish-brown in colour. To extend the flowering period, make sure to remove faded flowers and create bouquets.

To enhance the 'Caramel' Dahlia in a bed or bouquet, play with complementary shades and subtle contrasts. Pair it, for example, with the 'Café au Lait' Giant Dahlia, its large creamy flowers bring a beautiful balance and a soft light. The 'Cornel Brons' Ball Dahlia, with its round copper-toned flowers, will enhance the caramel hues while creating a play of textures. To add lightness to your composition, consider perennials like the White Swan Echinacea or the 'Terracotta' Achillea Millefolium, whose pale yellow and orange tones will blend perfectly with the dahlias. To add volume and movement to the scene, incorporate grasses like Stipa tenuifolia. The mix of these plants will create a composition that is both dynamic and balanced, in the garden as well as in a vase.

A star plant in cottage gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers, perfect for flower beds, but they can also enhance a vegetable garden. In Mexico, this tuber was initially grown as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste quickly relegated it to the status of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.