Dahlia Golden Eye

Dahlia 'Golden Eye' is a variety of Dahlia known as a 'ball' Dahlia, with flowers displaying a light lemon yellow colour, touched with a hint of green at the centre, giving them a fresh appearance. Medium-sized and slightly flattened, the flowers are composed of numerous individual florets that play with the light and create a sense of depth. The plant, of medium height, blooms abundantly from summer until the first frost, on long and sturdy stems, making it ideal for both bouquets and borders. Its flowers will look stunning alongside mauve or white asters, roses in matching colours, or the flowering grasses.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. They produce inflorescences in the form of flower heads, which we commonly refer to as 'flowers'. Nowadays, the thousands of horticultural varieties created by humans have spread to gardens all over the world, much to our delight.

The 'Golden Eye' variety will reach a height of approximately 1m (3ft) with a diameter of 60-70cm (24-28in) after 3 to 4 months of growth. It belongs to the group of decorative Dahlias known as 'Ball Dahlias'. In this category, the flower heads lack a visible centre and are composed of numerous regularly arranged and fully rolled up petals (ligules), never opening up. It includes varieties that form true balls, such as pompoms (with a diameter smaller than 6cm (2in)) and balls (with a diameter larger than 6cm (2in)). The flower heads of the 'Golden Eye' variety typically measure 9cm (4in) in diameter. The plant has an upright and bushy habit. The flowering period starts in July and lasts until October-November, provided faded flowers are removed regularly or used for bouquets. The very branched stems are long and strong, hollow, and bear opposite, pinnately lobed leaves with deeply toothed margins. The leaves and stems are a medium green shade.

To encourage repeat flowering, make sure to remove faded flowers or, even better, regularly create large colourful bouquets by combining the 'Golden Eye' variety with other types. 'Golden Eye' flowers beautifully in bouquets, alongside single or pompom-type varieties in white, blue, or orange. This variety stands out when combined with bronze or purple foliage or the lime green of lady's mantle. In borders, this Dahlia pairs well with the plumes of grasses such as squirrel tail grass and cordifolius asters ('Little Carlow'), which bloom at the same time. Its long, heavily flowered stems make it a great addition to bouquets late in the season.

As a star plant for borders and cottage gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers but also find a place alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. However, its poor taste led it to be considered an ornamental plant. Today, the Dahlia, with its infinite variety of shapes and colours, is considered one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.