Dahlia Shooting Star

The Dahlia 'Shooting Star' is distinguished by the very beautiful pastel colour of its large, erect inflorescences, with a well-organised architecture. From July to October, it produces very double flowers, composed of long, narrow, curled and tapered petals, in a very pale yellow colour, with a lavender-purple pointed tip. The center of the flower is infused with yellow. The plant, rather tall in size, has a bushy habit that is well suited for the back of flower beds. Its elegant flowers are beautiful in summer and autumn bouquets.

Dahlias belong to the large family of asteraceae, originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. At present, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our greatest pleasure, gardens all over the world. They are fleshy tuberous perennial plants. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flower. Dahlia 'Shooting Star' is classified in the category of cactus-flowered dahlias. In this group, the flowers are large, and the coloured ligules that make up the flowers are completely rolled up on themselves, giving them a spiky appearance. In this 'Shooting Star' variety, the heads are 20 to 24 cm (8 to 9in) in diameter and have a very soft colour, combining dominant pale yellow with delicate lilac marks at the tip of the ligules. The plant will reach at least 1m (3ft) in height, and 60 cm (24in) in width, with a bushy and erect habit. The very branched stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite, pinnately compound, meaning they divide into 3 or 5 leaflets, which have very denticulate lobes. The leaves and stems are dark green, a shade that enhances the colour of the flowers.

To promote repeat flowering and extend the flowering period, make sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly create attractive colourful bouquets by combining different varieties. The tall stature of this variety makes it suitable for the back of perennial flower beds, where it will go well with pink, deep purple, and dark purple. The flowering of Echinaceas is perfect when accompanied by Dahlias, as they bloom simultaneously, as well as perennial salvias for example. Also consider grasses such as foxtail barley or Pennisetum, which are very attractive in autumn.

A star of ornamental gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers. They are perfect in flower beds but can also enhance vegetable gardens. In Mexico, these tuberous plants were initially cultivated as root vegetables for consumption. Their poor taste assigned them the status of ornamental plants. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.