Dahlia Méditerranée

The Decorative Dahlia 'Méditerranée' is a medium-sized, very floriferous variety, exuding a truly romantic charm. From July to October, it produces large, very double flowers in pastel tones, mauve to lavender pink. Ideal for brightening a sunny border, this charming Dahlia allows for the creation of superb cut flower arrangements thanks to its sturdy stems that hold up well in a vase. Its inflorescences will blend perfectly with other white flowers for wedding bouquets or stylish displays.

Dahlia belongs to the vast Asteraceae family, comprising over 1600 genera, including vegetables (lettuces), ornamental perennials (Yarrows), and even some woody plants. Dahlias are tuberous plants native to warm regions from Mexico to Colombia. There are several dozen wild species and approximately 57,000 horticultural varieties, a testament to the global ornamental success of this plant, introduced to France as early as 1802. Faced with this multitude of cultivars, the highly respected RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) has classified them into 15 groups based on their flower form (cactus, pompon, anemone, star, etc.). 'Méditerranée' belongs to Group 5, the Decorative Dahlias, with fully double flowers without a visible central disc. The ligulate florets are generally broad and flat and can be rolled or slightly twisted for up to 75% of their length. The "flowers" of the Dahlia, like those of other Asteraceae, are in fact inflorescences composed of fertile central flowers surrounded by sterile ligulate flowers, which are often mistakenly confused with petals. This combination of two types of flowers (in a structure called a head) explains the family's former name: Compositae.
The Decorative Dahlia 'Méditerranée' develops in spring from a tubercle, which is the plant's storage organ for surviving the winter. It grows quickly to form a clump, which will be wider if the main shoot is pinched when it reaches about 50 cm. The hollow stems will then branch better, allowing the plant to reach 50 to 60 cm in width, with a flowering height of 80 to 100 cm. The foliage, a deep to dark green, consists of pinnate leaves with 3 to 5 more or less elliptical leaflets. This vegetation forms a darker background than the flowering, highlighting it particularly well. The inflorescences appear in July and renew themselves until October, especially if care is taken to remove faded ones. The heads, which can measure up to 12 cm in diameter, have a colour that is difficult to describe, between mauve and lavender pink, darker in the centre where the ligules fold in on themselves as if to protect the non-visible fertile flowers, and distinctly lighter on the rest of the surface, with the central part bordered by much paler margins. Very structured, the head exudes a graphic beauty due to its surprising geometry and charms with its gentle hue.

The Dahlia 'Méditerranée' will be perfect in a sunny position, in fresh but not waterlogged soil, alongside other plants with a romantic inspiration. A few clumps of Salvia nemorosa 'Mainacht', a Woodland Sage with clusters of violet-blue flowers, will add an interesting vertical touch. The Paniculate Baby's Breath 'Snow Flake', with its multitude of small white flowers reminiscent of snowflakes, will also be a perfect border companion and will add a touch of lightness to the cut flower arrangements you create with your Dahlia. To add dynamism to your border, you can include some decorative ornamental grasses that the slightest breeze will set in motion.