Dahlia Milena Fleur

The 'Milena Fleur' Camellia-Flowered Dahlia is a brand new variety that will turn heads. While the plant is not very tall and its flowers are not giant, it is generous and its flowering, with subtle shades of pink, is truly captivating. Its somewhat flattened flowers resemble very double water lilies, and their slightly waxy texture enhances its lavender reflections, becoming more salmon towards the golden heart. This decidedly coquettish variety is perfect for adding a romantic touch to the back of a flower bed or in home 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, much to our delight, gardens all over the world. They are herbaceous perennial plants with underground tubers that rest during winter.

Dahlia varieties are classified according to the shape of their flower heads. 'Milena Fleur', registered in 2018, is a Decorative Group Dahlia with camellia-like flowers. The flower heads are composed of several rows of almost flat, slightly concave ligules. The flower heads are regular and measure about 10 cm (4in) in diameter. The outermost ligules are a fairly pale pink to lavender, slightly streaked with yellow, especially at the base. The heart of the inflorescence is more salmon. The small yellow centre of the flowers only appears late, just before they wither. The plant will rarely exceed 80 cm (32in) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width. It has an upright, bushy habit, and its stems can do without staking. Its leaves are divided into denticulate lobes and are medium green, just like the stems. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or make bouquets frequently.

Today, Dahlias are essential in gardens, whether it be ornamental gardens or even vegetable gardens. Initially cultivated in Mexico as a root vegetable, their poor taste quickly relegated them to the status of ornamental plants, but they are still welcomed in vegetable gardens to add some color among the vegetables. 'Milena Fleur' is a medium-sized plant that can be used in perennial or low bush beds. For example, it can be associated with white dahlias ('Silver Years'), Caryopteris, or purple foliage (Physocarpus 'All Black', Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'). It pairs particularly well with grasses such as Muhlenbergia capillaris and Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'.