Dahlia Labyrinth

Dahlia 'Labyrinth' is one of those varieties of Decorative Dahlias that are quite unclassifiable, both due to the picturesque shape of their flowers and their elusive colours. This one produces huge, gently tousled heads, with changing colours, blending different shades of yellow, orange, and pink. Absolutely sumptuous in beds as well as in bouquets, the exotic flowers of 'Labyrinth' bloom for weeks above the foliage on dark-coloured, medium-height stems.

Dahlias are tuberous plants from the large family of Asteraceae, originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the thousands of horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens all over the world. Dahlias are classified based on the shape of their flowers. 'Labyrinth', registered in 2013, is classified in the category of Decorative Dahlias. In this group, the colourful ligules of the head are regularly arranged in a spiral, they can be curved towards the stem or fringed, for example. In this variety, the heads reach 20-25cm (8-10in) in diameter and their ligules are elongated, partially curled and pointed, undulating, radiating in all directions from the centre. Flowering occurs from July to October-November. Depending on the maturity of the flower, the colour of the ligules or petals changes: it goes from orange-yellow to apricot and then to pale peach, randomly flamed with soft pink to raspberry pink, with the centre of the inflorescence always leaning towards dark pink-red. The plant reaches an average height of 1m (3ft), and 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) in width, with a bushy and upright habit. The highly branched stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite, pinnately compound, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 leaflets, which have very denticulate lobes. The leaves are medium green and the stems, strong, are more or less tinged with purple.

To promote flowering and extend the flowering period, make sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly create magnificent colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. Decorative Dahlias go well with Gauras and Cleomes that lighten their generous silhouette. The gently exotic flowers of 'Labyrinth' also allow numerous associations in floral compositions, with the ball dahlia 'Cornel Brons', 'Velvet Curtains' Amaranthus, white umbels of Selinum wallichianum, and purple foliage, for example. The average size of this variety makes it suitable for the centre of mixed beds, to structure a composition of colourful foliage shrubs and shorter plants. The flowering of Echinaceas is perfect to accompany Dahlias, as they bloom simultaneously, as well as perennial salvias, for example. Also consider grasses (Briza media, Stipa arundinacea, Eragrostis trichodes) which take on beautiful shades in autumn.

As the star plant of ornamental gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers. They are perfect in flower beds, but can also enhance vegetable gardens. In Mexico, this tuber was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste qualities quickly assigned it the status of an ornamental plant.