Dahlia Striped Ambition

Dahlia 'Striped Ambition' is a perfectly unique variety, thanks to the shape and colour of its flowers, as well as its ability to incorporate in the garden or in bouquets. Its semi-cactus flowers are formed by multiple fringed petals that display a delicate air. Each flower has its own personality, but they are all striped with purple on a light lavender-pink background. The colour darkens at the end of the season. The flowers bloom from the beginning of summer to the first frost. It is a standard-sized variety that will work wonders in beds and vases.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. There are currently thousands of horticultural varieties that have conquered gardens worldwide. They are tender perennials with fleshy tubers.

'Striped Ambition' was registered in 2009. In 3 to 4 months, it forms a bushy clump measuring 90cm (35in) to 1.1m (4ft) tall and 60cm (24in) wide. This cultivar is classified as a decorative dahlia with semi-cactus flowers, a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head incompletely curl up on at least 1/3 of their length. This dahlia also has ligules cut into forks at their tips. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in September-October. The heads measure about 10cm (4in) in diameter. The habit is bushy and erect, and the strong, highly branched stems are hollow. Its leaves are opposite and divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are dark green.

Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms. You can use cut flowers to make colourful bouquets, combining them with other varieties. 

'Striped Ambition' highlights the solid and light-coloured inflorescences of phlox paniculata, Salvia jamensis, campanulas, and pastel-coloured cosmos. It also works well with other dahlias: 'Preference', 'Clair Obscur', and 'Tsuki Yori no Shisha'. It also pairs particularly well with the wine-red plumes of foxtail amaranth, Pennisetum x advena 'Rubrum', and large daisies. In flower beds, it will perfectly match pink echinaceas and crested wheatgrass. It looks wonderful with sedums and small miscanthus.

Dahlias are stars of borders and ornamental gardens, confidently accompanying the most beautiful flowers. However, they are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste qualities quickly saw it categorised as an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.