Dahlia Blyton Golden Girl

Dahlia 'Blyton Golden Girl' is a variety of Dahlia known as a 'ball' Dahlia, with flowers displaying a sunny colour, a bright yellow of great purity. Of medium size, in the form of barely flattened pompoms, they are organized in innumerable alveoli that give them relief. The plant, of beautiful stature, blooms generously from summer to frost, on long and sturdy stems, with an impeccable presence in bouquets as well as in flowerbeds. Its radiant flowers will be superb with mauve or white asters, white, yellow or orange roses.

The Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family, they are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico and bear inflorescences in heads, which we commonly call 'flowers'. Currently, the thousands of horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens all over the world.
The 'Blyton Golden Girl' variety will measure approximately 1.20m (4ft) in height and 60-70cm (24-28in) in diameter after 3 to 4 months of cultivation. It is classified among the Dahlias of the decorative group with Ball type flowers. In this category, the heads are without a visible centre, and they are composed of numerous petals (ligules) regularly arranged and completely rolled up on themselves, tubular, never flaring. This includes varieties that form true balls, such as pompoms (diameter less than 6cm (2in)) and balls (diameter greater than 6cm (2in)). The heads of this 'Blyton Golden Girl' variety generally measure 9cm (4in) in diameter. The plant has an upright and bushy habit. Flowering starts in July and ends in October-November. The stems, very branched, long and sturdy, are hollow and the leaves are opposite, pinnatisect, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 highly toothed lobes. The leaves and stems here are a bright green.

To promote flowering again, take care to cut off faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining them with other varieties. 'Blyton Golden Girl' produces incredibly bright flowers in bouquets, along with single or pompom varieties, white, mauve or orange. Its long, heavily flowered stems allow for bouquets until late in the season. In flowerbeds, this Dahlia will accompany the plumes of grasses such as squirreltail barley, for example, these plants flower at the same time. This variety stands out beautifully against the bronze or purple foliage of certain Physocarpus or the anise green of lady's mantle.

As a star plant in borders and cottage gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers, but are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. But its poor taste qualities relegated it to the rank of ornamental plant. The Dahlia, with its infinitely varied shapes and colors, is now considered one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.