Dahlia Labyrinth Twotone

Dahlia 'Labyrinth Twotone' produces large, rounded, and beautifully ruffled flowers, all variegated with mauve and lilac on a pale pink background. An unusual combination of flower shape and colour, but very beautiful. They are carried well above the foliage by sturdy stems and bloom from July-August until the first frost. Excellent as a cut flower, stunning in borders, for example with nostalgic roses, asters, and Statice. 

Dahlias are tuberous plants from the large aster family, originally native to the high plateaus of Mexico. Nowadays, the thousands of horticultural varieties created by humans have invaded, much to our delight, gardens all over the world. Dahlias are classified based on the shape of their flowers. 'Labyrinth Twotone' is classified in the category of Decorative Dahlias. In this group, the "petals" or coloured ligules of the head are arranged regularly in a spiral, they can be bent towards the stem or fringed, for example. In this variety, the heads measure approximately 17cm (7in) in diameter and their ligules are elongated, partially curled and pointed, undulating, radiating in all directions from the centre. The flowering continues for more than 3 months if you regularly remove faded flowers or make bouquets. Each flower is different and its colour changes as the flower matures. The colour palette includes pale pink, shades of mauve, violet, lilac. The plant will reach about 1m (3ft) in height and 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) in width, with a bushy and upright 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 dentate lobes. The leaves are medium green and the stems are more or less tinged with purple. 

To promote re-flowering and extend the flowering period, make sure to remove faded flowers. Even better, regularly create beautiful colourful bouquets by combining various varieties. Decorative Dahlias go well with Gauras and Cleomes that will lighten their generous silhouette. The flowers of 'Labyrinth Twotone' also allow for numerous combinations in floral arrangements, with matching colored roses (white, pink, violet, purple), white umbels of Selinum wallichianum, and purple foliage, for example. The medium size of this variety makes it suitable for the centre of mixed borders, to structure an ensemble composed of shrubs with colourful foliage and lower plants. The flowering of Echinaceas is perfect to accompany that of Dahlias, as well as that of perennial salvias, for example. Also consider grasses (Briza media, Stipa arundinacea, Eragrostis trichodes) which take on lovely hues in autumn. 

As star plants in ornamental gardens, Dahlias are undoubtedly beautiful flowers. They are perfect in flowerbeds, but can also enhance vegetable gardens. In Mexico, this tuber was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste quickly relegated it to the status of an ornamental plant.