Dahlia Purple Bouquet

The 'Purple Bouquet' Anemone Dahlia, as its name suggests, is a variety of purple flowers particularly suited for bouquet arrangements. Of medium stature, it produces an abundance of variable-shaped flower heads, composed of a more or less double collar of purple petals topped with a slightly redder, frilly-looking heart, more or less developed. These whimsical flowers add a lot of charm to floral compositions.

Dahlias are tuberous plants in the large Asteraceae family, originally native to the high plateaus of Mexico. At present, the approximately 75,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens worldwide. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flowers. 'Purple Bouquet' is classified in the category of decorative dahlias with anemone-like flowers. In this group, the coloured ligules of the flower head are arranged in pompoms in the centre and surrounded by a wider collar of ligules. In this variety, the flower heads are 12cm (5in) in diameter and the outer ligules, of intense purple colour, are almost flat, organized in a semi-double to double collar. Those in the centre are shorter, tubular, and fringed, tightly packed together like a cushion. This heart is more or less developed depending on the flower heads, some resembling classic decorative dahlias. The flowering takes place from July to October. The plant will reach a height of 1m (3ft), with a bushy and dense habit. The highly branched stems are hollow, and the leaves are divided into 3 or 5 leaflets, which are toothed. The leaves are a fairly dark green, while the stems are more or less purplish.

To promote repeat flowering and extend the flowering period, take care to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly create attractive colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. The richly coloured flowering of this 'Purple Bouquet' variety will be enhanced by the foliage and the delicate spikes of grasses (Briza media, Panicum, Molinia, Calamagrostis), to emphasize the contrast between the delicacy of tall grasses and the more refined character of its flower. The flowering of Amaranthus, Agastaches, and Echinaceas is perfect as an accompaniment to that of dahlias, as they occur simultaneously, as well as the flowering of cosmos or perennial salvias, for example.

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