Dahlia Hollyhill Calico

The Dahlia Hollyhill Calico offers truly unique flowers, which are both charming and refined. They are truly one of a kind, as they are more than tricoloured, resembling large round balls, and each one is different, but always in a pastel range. Light pink or raspberry, peach, golden, and cream blend together on these flowers, creating a delightful living bouquet. This unusual variety will make a statement in a bed of perennials or annuals with delicate flowers and add another dimension to homemade bouquets, even late in the season.

Dahlias belong to the large family of Asteraceae, originally from the high plateaus of Mexico, and have inflorescences organized in heads that we commonly refer to as "flowers". Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties created by humans have invaded gardens worldwide, much to our delight. Dahlia varieties are classified based on the shape of their heads. 'Hollyhill Calico' is a Dahlia from the decorative group with Ball-type flowers. In this category, the heads have no visible center and are composed of numerous petals (ligules) regularly arranged and completely rolled up, tubular, and never spreading. It includes varieties that form true balls, such as pompoms (diameter less than 6 cm (2in)) and balls (diameter greater than 6 cm (2in)). 'Hollyhill Calico' will reach a height of approximately 80 cm (32in) when in bloom and 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) wide, depending on the growing conditions. It has an upright habit, and its stems sometimes require staking. Its green leaves are divided into denticulate lobes. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if faded flowers are removed or frequently made into bouquets.

Today, Dahlias are essential in gardens, whether in an ornamental garden or even a vegetable garden. Initially cultivated in Mexico as a root vegetable, their poor taste quickly relegated them to the status of ornamental plants, but they are still welcome in the vegetable garden to add some color among the vegetables. 'Hollyhill Calico' is an exceptional flower that can be used as a focal plant in tall beds, alongside pink or white cosmos, or white asters, for example, so as not to overshadow its refined colour. It can also be paired with foliage plants like fennel or purple-leaved varieties (Cotinus Royal Purple, Physocarpus 'Red Baron', Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'). Its cut flowers, trimmed very short and placed in a shallow bowl surrounded by tendrils and clusters of black grapes, will be wonderful on a festive table in autumn.