Dahlia Bronze Glory

The Bronze Glory decorative Dahlia produces flowers that are not very large, but all round and filled with yellow petals tinged with orange on the periphery. This variety develops strong stems of medium height and its flowers have a very good vase life. In the garden, its long and abundant flowering warms up the flower beds.

The Dahlias are tuberous plants of the Asteraceae family, their "flowers" are actually inflorescences in heads. The wild species, the origin of all our modern cultivars, naturally grow on the high plateaus of Mexico.

Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their flowers. 'Bronze Glory' is classified in the category of Decorative Dahlias, and in the sub-category of decorative dahlias with small flowers. In this group, the colourful ligules (or "petals") of the head are regularly spiralled, they can be bent towards the stem or curly for example. In this 'Bronze Glory' variety, the heads measure 10 cm in diameter and their ligules are rather small, oval, concave, curved downwards. Their colour evolves from yellow to orange, it can vary depending on the temperature. The first flowers appear in July, then they succeed each other until October-November. To promote floral reblooming and extend the flowering period, make sure to deadhead the flowers. The plant will reach between 90 cm and 1 m in height, with a spread of 50 to 60 cm. It forms a clump of leafy stems with a bushy and erect habit. The ramified stems are hollow and the leaves are divided into 3 or 5 leaflets, which form very denticulate lobes. The leaves are quite bright green and the stems are coloured purplish brown.

'Bronze Glory' Dahlias also make cheerful bouquets, with plumes of grasses, purple foliage like that of Physocarpus opulifolius 'Lady In Red', and Helenium flowers. The average height of this variety makes it suitable for the centre of mixed borders, to structure a composition of shrubs with foliage and lower plants. The light flowering of cosmos is perfect alongside Dahlias, as they bloom simultaneously.

Stars of cottage gardens, often planted in the vegetable garden with gladioli, Dahlias are infinitely varied flowers, appreciated for their whimsy in a flower bed, but perhaps even more so in a vase. In Mexico, this tuber was initially cultivated as a root vegetable, like Jerusalem artichokes. Its poor taste qualities, but also its beauty, quickly brought it back to the ornamental garden.