Dahlia Wizard Of Oz

The Dahlia 'Wizard Of Oz' is a medium-sized variety of flowers in the shape of pompons, perfectly round, with remarkable architecture. Its flowers are precisely and curiously organized in countless pink cells with mauve reflections in which the light plays, each small chamber formed by the tubular petals animating with a brighter pink tone. This plant, of modest size, with luxuriant foliage, blooms abundantly from summer to frost. Did you know that the more you cut Dahlia flowers to make bouquets, the more the plant will flower in the garden?

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, to our greatest pleasure, gardens worldwide.
The 'Wizard Of Oz' variety will measure approximately 80cm (32in) in height and 50-60cm (20-24in) in diameter after 3 to 4 months of cultivation. It is classified as a pompon Dahlia; it is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the heads are very compact and modest but produced in abundance, and the tubular ligules form a perfectly spherical flower head with a cellular structure like a beehive. The 'Wizard Of Oz' flowers are 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter. The outer ligules are light pink and fresh, washed with mauve, while those in the centre are barely pinkish-white. The golden heart of the flower only appears late, just before withering. The flowering takes place from July to October. The habit is bushy and stocky. The very branched, long and sturdy stems are hollow, and the leaves are opposite, pinnately lobed, meaning they divide into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are bright green, while the floral stems are more purplish.

To promote flowering, cut faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining them with other varieties. 'Wizard Of Oz' produces beautiful flowers in bouquets, in the company of single or pompon varieties, white, pink or mauve. This variety particularly complements the blue flowers of perennial delphiniums, aconites and asters and stands out against fennels' green or purple foliage. In flower beds, this Dahlia will create fresh and bright spots in the company of Gaura and Hemerocallis, for example, which bloom at the same time. This very floriferous variety allows you to enhance bouquets until late in the season.

As a star plant in borders and herb gardens, Dahlias confidently accompany the most beautiful flowers but are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. This tuberous plant was initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption in Mexico. But its poor taste qualities relegated it to the status of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.