Dahlia Windmill

Dahlia 'Windmill' is a star-shaped variety that stands out with its rare red and white bicolour flowers. Its slender white petals boast curled edges, bordered or streaked with red at the centre, depending on the flowers. They radiate from the centre of the flower, occupied by a large golden yellow heart. It is a unique and vibrant variety that deserves a prominent spot in the garden, contrasting beautifully with dark foliage. Its flowers are also wonderful in 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 'Windmill', introduced in 2019, is a perennial plant with swollen tuberous roots. These tubers, gathered in bundles, produce upright, hollow and branched stems as soon as the temperature rises in spring, bearing compound, odd-pinnate leaves with rounded leaflets. The sturdy, fleshy stems are approximately 70 to 80cm (28 to 32in) tall, and are topped with inflorescences called heads, which are 7 to 8cm (3in) wide. The Honka series is part of the horticultural family of star-shaped dahlias, defined by the shape of the flower. The foliage of this variety is a vibrant green colour.

Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms. You can use cut flowers to make colourful bouquets, combining them with other varieties.

'Windmill' pairs particularly well with delicate flowers and purple foliage (silver candles, heuchera) that won't overshadow the delicacy of its flowering. Consider planting it with nigella, cosmos, centaurea, and scabiosa, which bloom at the same time. It also works well with asters and Verbena bonariensis.

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.

Tips: when planting, consider the dimensions of the dahlia in terms of your flower beds.