Dahlia King Arthur

Dahlia 'King Arthur' is characterised by small-sized flowers (about 10cm (4in) in diameter) whose colour evolves as the flower opens. Initially dark red with a velvety appearance, they gradually turn bright red. This lovely bush blooms abundantly from July until the first frosts and can reach 1m (3ft) in height. Its flowers are beautiful in bouquets.

From the Asteraceae family, dahlias are tuberous plants native to the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, there are thousands of horticultural varieties that have conquered gardens worldwide. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flowers. The variety 'King Arthur' is part of the Decorative Dahlias with small flowers. They are characterised by ligules (like petals) arranged regularly in a spiral, which can be bent towards the stem or curly. This variety won the press prize at the international dahlia competition in 2023.

The heads of the 'King Arthur' variety measure about 10cm (4in) in diameter. The flowering occurs from July until the first frost. The bushy and erect plant will reach about 1m (3ft) in height, and 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) in width. The stems are hollow and therefore fragile in windy conditions. The green leaves are opposite, divided into 3 or 5 leaflets.

To promote flowering and extend it at the same time, make sure to remove the faded flowers as they appear. Use the flowers to create lovely countryside bouquets, by combining complementary colours and sizes and shapes of blooms. Plant several dahlias in a flower bed or plant several varieties in the vegetable garden for a varied display. The flowers of Dahlia 'King Arthur' will perfectly complement those of Dahlia 'Aramis' with large purple flowers, or the pure white blooms of Dahlia anemone 'Zahra'.

Undisputed stars of cottage gardens, Decorative Dahlias pair well with gauras and cleomes, which lighten their generous silhouette. Also consider echinaceas and salvias such as Salvia microphylla 'Caramba' with red flowers and variegated foliage.