Dahlia Purpinca

The 'Purpinca' Dahlia is a variety of decorative Dahlia with small anemone-like flowers, offering intense deep pink flowers measuring 6 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter. They are composed of wide and flat external ligules, as well as a collar of small tubular internal ligules gathered in a honeycomb shape. It blooms for a long time, from summer to autumn, above a very compact vegetation that does not require any support. These qualities make it an ideal variety for growing in pots and for border decoration.

Dahlias are tuberous plants from the large asteraceae family, originally native to the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens all over the world. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flowers. 'Purpinca' is classified in the category of decorative Dahlias with anemone-like flowers. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head are arranged in fringed pompoms for example, surrounded by a collar of larger petals. In this variety, the capitula are 6 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter and the outermost ligules are almost flat, a very deep pink-purple, while those in the centre are short and tubular, darker, tightly packed together like the cells of a beehive. The flowering takes place from July to October. The plant will not exceed 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) in all directions, with a bushy and very compact habit. The highly branched stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite, pinnately compound, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 leaflets, which have very denticulate lobes. The leaves and stems are medium green.

To encourage repeat flowering and extend the flowering period, make sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly create attractive colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. The vibrant flowering of this variety deserves to be highlighted by the light foliage of grasses such as Panicum, Molinia, and Calamagrostis, to emphasise the contrast between the delicacy of the tall grasses and the assertiveness of its flower. The flowering of Echinaceas is perfect to accompany that of Dahlias, as they occur simultaneously, as well as the flowering of cosmos or perennial salvias for example.

A star plant in cottage gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers. They look impeccable in flowerbeds but can also enhance vegetable gardens. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste quickly assigned it the status of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.