Dahlia Vuurvogel

Dahlia 'Vuurvogel' catches the eye with its flamboyant pale-yellow flowers that are heavily streaked with vermillion. They are composed of tubular peripheral petals surrounding a core of larger central petals. They bloom in abundance from summer until frost. This bushy plant reaches 1m (3ft) in height. It enlivens flower beds, and the cut flowers make beautiful bouquets.

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.

'Vuurvogel' forms a clump 80cm (32in) to 1.1m (4ft) tall and 60 to 70cm (24 to 28in) wide. It is classified as a semi-cactus dahlia. This is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head partially curl up for at least one third of their length. This variety blooms from July to October-November. The heads measure 15 to 16cm (6in) in diameter, with yellow ligules at the base splashed with vermillion or carmine red. The red streaks are more pronounced on the periphery of the head. The habit is bushy and upright, and the branching stems are hollow. Its leaves are opposite, pinnately divided into 3 or 5 toothed lobes. The leaves are medium green and the stems dark green, marked with purple.

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

'Vuurvogel' makes a focal point in the garden, and it deserves to be isolated from other variegated blooms. It is best associated with foliage plants such as fennels and kochias (Bassia scoparia), or grasses such as stipas or crested wheatgrass. It also pairs well with delicate flowers, in a harmony of colours. Scarlet salvias, yellow or orange coreopsis, cosmos, and tithonia (Mexican sunflower) will make good companions without overshadowing the dahlia's own flowering. In a border, it will go perfectly with echinaceas, heleniums. It will also create a unique combination with sedums and 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.