Dahlia Babyloon Pourpre

The Babylon Paars decorative Dahlia is an impressive variety, with double to semi-double flowers reaching the size of a plate. Spectacular, round and flat, they are also remarkably coloured in red-purple with pink reflections, with a slightly darker center. They succeed each other throughout the summer and a good part of autumn, above a beautiful cluster of foliage.

Dahlias belong to the large family of asters, originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens around the world. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flowers. 'Babylon Paars' is classified in the category of decorative dahlias. In this group, the colored ligules of the head are arranged regularly in a spiral, they can be curved towards the stem or curled for example. In this variety, the heads can have a diameter of up to 25 cm (10in), and the ligules are wide, rounded, of a beautiful red-purple colour, with those in the center being slightly darker. Flowering occurs from July to October. The plant will reach a height of 90 cm (35in) and a width of 50 cm (20in), with a bushy and upright habit. The very branched stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite, compound, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 leaflets, which form very denticulate lobes. The leaves are a fairly dark green and the stems are more or less purplish.

To promote re-flowering and extend the flowering period, be sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly create attractive colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. The stature of this variety makes it suitable for the back of perennial plant beds, where it will blend well with pink, mauve, deep purple, and dark purple. The flowering of Echinaceas is perfect when accompanied by Dahlias, as they occur simultaneously, as well as the flowering of shrubby salvias for example. Also, consider grasses that have a very nice effect in autumn.

As the star plant in ornamental gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers. They are perfect in flower beds but can also enhance vegetable gardens. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste quickly relegated it to the rank of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.