Dahlia Marshmallow Baby

The 'Marshmallow Baby' Dahlia is a variety of Dahlia known as a 'ball' Dahlia with small round pink flowers. The flowers are rather small, cute, and slightly flattened pompoms, arranged in countless alveolates painted with dark pink that play with the light and give them relief. The plant, of modest stature, produces numerous flowers until the end of the season. They are perfect in bouquets as well as in borders. Stunning with golden grasses and white, purple, pink, or blue asters.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. They bear inflorescences in heads, which we commonly call 'flowers'. At present, the thousands of horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our great pleasure, gardens all over the world.

The 'Marshmallow Baby' variety reaches an average height of 90cm (35in) and a diameter of 50cm (20in) after 3 to 4 months of cultivation. It is classified as a decorative Dahlia in the decorative group of ball Dahlias. In this category, the heads have no visible centre and are composed of numerous petals (ligules) regularly arranged and rolled up, never fully opening. This includes varieties that form true balls, such as pompoms (diameter less than 6cm (2in)) and balls (diameter greater than 6cm (2in)). The heads of this 'Marshmallow Baby' variety generally measure 10cm (4in) in diameter. The plant has an upright and bushy habit. Flowering of this variety starts in July and ends in October-November, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or frequently make bouquets. The stems are very branched, long, and sturdy, hollow, and the leaves are opposite, pinnatisect, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 highly toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are a vibrant green.

To encourage repeat flowering, make sure to remove faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining it with other varieties. 'Marshmallow Baby' provides vibrant flowers in bouquets, accompanied by varieties with single or pompom flowers, white, pink, purple, or crimson. Its long, heavily flowered stems allow for bouquets until late in the season. In borders, this Dahlia forms masses of pink flowers alongside grasses like Muhlenbergia capillaris, which forms pink plumes. Add white or pink daylilies or coneflowers, for example, these perennials bloom at the same time. Also consider pairing it with the 'Rosenpompom' aster, aptly named, they will mix their pompoms in vases as well as in the garden.

As a star plant in borders and cottage gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers but are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. However, its poor taste qualities relegated it to the status of an ornamental plant. The Dahlia, with its infinitely varied shapes and colours, is now considered one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.