Dahlia Isas Favourite

Dahlia 'Isa's Favourite' is a variety of Dahlia known as a 'ball' Dahlia, with flowers that display a pale yellow colour, slightly more lemony in the centre, delicately tipped with lavender pink at the heart. Of medium size, with slightly flattened pompom-like shapes, they are organized in numerous alveoli that play with the light and give them relief. The plant, of medium stature, blooms abundantly, from summer to frost, on long and sturdy green stems, with a flawless appearance in bouquets as well as in flower beds. Its tenderly coloured flowers will be magnificent with asters or the blooming of grasses.

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 greatest pleasure, gardens all over the world.

The 'Isa's Favourite' variety will measure about 1m (3ft) in height and 70cm (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 heart, and they are composed of numerous regularly arranged and completely rolled up petals (ligules), tubular and never flaring. It includes varieties that form true balls, like pompoms (diameter less than 6cm (2in)) and balls (diameter greater than 6cm (2in)). The heads of this 'Isa's Favourite' variety generally measure 9-10cm (4in) in diameter. The plant has an erect and bushy habit. The flowering of this variety starts in July and ends in October-November, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or frequently make bouquets. The very branching stems are long and sturdy, hollow, and the leaves are opposite, pinnately lobed, meaning they divide into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves here are a fairly dark green and the stems are tinged with purple.

To encourage flowering again, take care to cut off faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining it with other varieties. 'Isa's Favorite' produces very pretty flowers in bouquets, accompanied by single or pompom-like varieties, in white, pastel pink or salmon. In flower beds, this glorious Dahlia will create very colourful spots alongside grasses like squirrel's tail barley and cordifolius asters ('Little Carlow'), for example, which bloom at the same time. Its long, very flowery stems allow for the decoration of bouquets until late in the season.

As a star plant for borders and herb gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers, but are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. However, its poor taste qualities assigned it the status of an ornamental plant. The Dahlia, with its infinitely varied shapes and colours, is now considered one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.