Dahlia Bal d'Edimbourg

Dahlia 'Edinburgh' produces large, fully double, bicolour architectural flowers. They are composed of countless wide and almost flat petals, where purple-red and white blend together. The heart of the flower is slightly more mauve. It flowers for a long time, from summer to autumn, above a strong medium green bush. This large variety is suitable for the back of borders and its flowers are perfect for creating generous bouquets.

Dahlias belong to the large family of Asteraceae, they are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. At present, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by man have invaded gardens all over the world, to our great pleasure,. Dahlias varieties are classified according to the shape of their heads. 'Alva's Regalia', introduced in 1962, is a decorative Dahlia with medium-sized flowers. The inflorescences are composed of several rows of almost flat, rounded ligules with more or less fringed edges, slightly incurved. The heads measure up to 16 cm (6in) in diameter. Each ligule is very dark purple at the base, and extends into a brighter magenta red hue. The center of the flower is a more ash purple. The plant will reach about 1 m (3ft) in height and 70 cm (28in) in width and has a bushy habit. Its leaves, with a smooth texture, are divided into very denticulate lobes. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in September-October, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or to frequently use them to make bouquets.

To encourage repeat flowering and extend the flowering period, make sure that faded flowers are removed.  Even better, regularly create attractive colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. The tall stature of this variety makes it suitable for the back of perennial borders, to structure a composition of flowering shrubs and shorter perennials. The flowering of Echinaceas is perfect when accompanied by Dahlias, as they occur simultaneously, as well as the flowering of perennial salvias, for example. Also consider grasses (Miscanthus saccharifolius, Stipa arundinacea, Eragrostis trichodes) which take on beautiful hues in autumn.

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