Dahlia Temple of Beauty

The Dahlia 'Temple of Beauty' is a variety with large flowers, entirely double, slightly flattened, on a plant of fairly tall stature. The inflorescences vary in the proportion and pattern of colours, mixing dark pink, cream-white, soft yellow, and peach. The colours soften as the season progresses. This variety is a very floriferous plant, standing out in the middle or back of a border. Also superb in bouquets.

Dahlias belong to the large family of asteraceae, originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the some 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by man have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens worldwide. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their heads. 'Temple of Beauty' is a Dahlia from the decorative group with large flowers. The inflorescences are composed of several rows of wide, almost flat, slightly incurved outer ligules. The heads are opulent and measure up to 15 cm in diameter. The juxtaposition of all the multicoloured flowers transforms the plant into a fascinating bouquet. The plant reaches approximately 80 cm to 1.10 m in height and 60 cm in width and has a bushy habit. Its leaves, with a smooth texture, are divided into very denticulate lobes. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or frequently make bouquets.

Nowadays essential in gardens, Dahlias were initially cultivated in Mexico as a vegetable root. Their poor taste qualities quickly relegated them to the status of an ornamental plant, but they are still welcome in the vegetable garden to bring a bit of colour amidst the vegetables and supply a reserve of flowers for cutting. 'Temple of Beauty' is enhanced by a setting of grasses (Stipa, Pennisetum, Foxtail Barley, Carex...) or panicled phlox and white, yellow, or red cosmos. It could also be paired with bush roses, in a harmonious colour scheme.