Dahlia Melba

The Decorative Dahlia 'Melba', whose name reminds us of a famous dessert, promises delicious flowering. Its flowers are lovely and generous, well double, slightly flattened, in a soft orange-pink colour, illuminated by pale yellow towards the tightly packed heart of the flower. This variety, with a very healthy constitution, forms a beautiful flowering bush from July to October. It pairs well with gauras and cleomes, which lighten its generous silhouette. Its bright flowers also allow for numerous combinations in floral arrangements.

Dahlias are tuberous plants from the large asteraceae family, originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. At present, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have arrived, much to our delight, in gardens all over the world. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flower. 'Melba' is classified in the category of Decorative Dahlias. In this group, the coloured ligules of the capitulum are arranged regularly in a spiral, they can be curved towards the stem or curled for example. In this variety, the capitula measure 15 to 17 cm (6 to 7in) in diameter and their ligules are flat and wide, oval, slightly folded, with a salmon-orange colour, speckled with pale yellow at the base, with more yellow colour towards the centre of the flower, around a heart of small orange ligules. The flowering takes place from July to October. The plant will reach a height of 1.20 m (4ft), and a width of 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28in), with a bushy and upright habit. The very 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 and stems are a fairly dark green.

To promote repeat flowering and extend the flowering period, take care to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly create alluring colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. The beautiful stature of this variety makes it suitable for the back of perennial plant borders, of course, to structure a composition of flowering shrubs (Cotinus, Compact Winged Spindle, Loropetalum) and lower perennials. The flowering of Echinaceas is perfect when accompanied by Dahlias, as they occur simultaneously, as well as the flowering of perennial salvias for example. Also consider grasses (Miscanthus saccharifolius, Stipa arundinacea, Eragrostis trichodes) which take on lovely colours in autumn.

The star plant of ornamental gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers, they are impeccable in flower beds but can also embellish the vegetable garden. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste quickly assigned it the rank of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.