Dahlia Caribbean Fantasy

The Decorative Dahlia 'Caribbean Fantasy' bears large double flowers in tropical colours, which shine in the middle of summer and late in the season, enhanced by beautiful dark blue-green foliage. Its flowers are pure white, finely striped and streaked with dark red, while a yellow and bright hue warms their centre. A high-coloured yet exquisite variety, to be planted not far from the house or in a large pot to admire it up close.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are initially from the Mexican highlands. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens worldwide.

The 'Caribbean Fantasy' variety, introduced in 2002, will quickly form a clump about 1m (3ft) tall and 60cm (24in) wide. It is also classified as a Decorative Dahlia, a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head are arranged regularly in a spiral, and they can be curved towards the stem or curled, for example. The 'Caribbean Fantasy' flowers are about 15-20cm (6-8in) in diameter. The ligules are broad, slightly rolled up on themselves, and droop a little towards the stem. Their two-tone colour is pure white, more or less streaked with dark red, with the flower head revealing a bright yellow heart towards the base of the ligules. The golden centre of the flower only appears late, just before wilting. The flowering period takes place from July to October. The habit is bushy and dense. The branches are hollow, and the leaves are opposite, pinnately divided into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are pretty dark bluish-green.

To encourage repeated flowering, remove faded flowers or regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining them with other varieties. 'Caribbean Fantasy' puts on a show, and its exotic flowers deserve to be isolated from other variegated blooms. In borders, this Dahlia will form bright spots emerging from clumps of grasses (Stipa, Miscanthus, Hordeum jubatum, Panicum) or flower clusters of Asters (Aster ageratoides Ashvi, Aster laevis Calliope, Aster turbinellus). Its medium size allows it to be grown in a pot, provided it is chosen in a large volume, to enjoy its exceptional flowering on the terrace or balcony.