Dahlia Gerrie Hoek

Dahlia 'Gerrie Hoek' is a variety with waterlily-like flowers, a wildly romantic creation that also stands out with excellent floribundity and sturdy stems. Its delicate flowers boast a silver-pink tone warmed by a yellow heart. Produced abundantly from July to November, they seem to float on beautiful dark green foliage. They look wonderful with other flowering plants in perennial beds. Its long-lasting flowers are excellent for 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.

Dahlia varieties are classified according to the shape of their heads. 'Gerrie Hoek' is a waterlily dahlia, whose heads are quite flat and very double. The plant will easily reach a height of 1.1m (4ft) and a width of 60cm (24in). It has a bushy and upright habit, but the strength of its stems often eliminates the need for staking. Its leaves are opposite and divided into denticulate lobes. The leaves and stems are dark green. Flowering begins in July and ends in October-November, if faded blooms are regularly removed. The inflorescences have rows of slightly upwardly curled outer ligules. The flower heads are perfectly constructed, measuring approximately 10cm (4in) in diameter. With a magnificent iridescent soft pink colour on the periphery, they reveal a centre infused with light-yellow. The golden heart only appears late, just before wilting.

'Gerrie Hoek' pairs particularly well with pink or violet flowers, especially the lush corollas of old roses and the delicate heads of Buenos Aires verbena. This dahlia will create colourful spots at the back of a bed with echinaceas, cosmos, sedum, and salvias. Pennisetum villosum, violet gladiolus, or Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues' bring softness and delicacy to the scene. This variety is ideal for cultivation in large containers, easily adorning a patio or balcony.

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.