Dahlia Contessa
Dahlia Contessa
Dahlia Contessa
Dahlia
satisfied
benoit barbesson, 07/07/2016
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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty
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We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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Description
The Decorative Dahlia 'Contessa' is a stunning plant that doesn't go unnoticed. The flowers of this variety resemble camellias or semi-double water lilies, with a light and vibrant red colour, intense, barely touched with orange in the centre. Its long flowering period is particularly brilliant in the garden, elegantly animating the back of flower beds and homemade bouquets from July to October.
Dahlias belong to the large family of asteraceae, originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, much to our delight, gardens all over the world. Dahlia varieties are classified based on the shape of their heads. 'Contessa' is a decorative Dahlia with camellia-like flowers. The inflorescences are composed of several rows of almost flat outer ligules, barely curled upwards. The heads measure 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) in diameter. The outer ligules are a very solid red, while those in the centre are slightly variegated with orange. The plant will reach about 1.20 to 1.50 m (4 to 5ft) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width. It has a bushy habit. Its leaves are divided into highly denticulate lobes and are carried by stems with purple-tinted tips. The particularly long flowering period of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or frequently make bouquets.
Today, Dahlias are essential in gardens, but initially they were cultivated in Mexico as root vegetables. Their poor taste quickly relegated them to the rank of ornamental plants, but they are still welcome in vegetable gardens to bring some colour among the vegetables. 'Contessa' pairs particularly well with white flowers, golden foliage (Fuchsia magellanica 'Aurea', Choysia ternata 'Sundance'), and grasses (Hordeum jubatum, Pennisetum, Miscanthus) that are at their peak in autumn.
Dahlia Contessa in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Dahlia
Contessa
Asteraceae
Dahlia
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
The 'Contessa' decorative Dahlia is easy to grow in all regions. For abundant flowering, it is good to follow a few simple rules. Plant the tubers in a sunny location as soon as the last frost has passed, rich, fresh, and well-drained soils are perfect. However, stagnant moisture would promote tuber rot. Feel free to amend the soil with compost and sand if necessary. Work the soil deeply and enrich it, for example, with crushed horn or dehydrated blood. Place your tuber and crumble the soil well to fill the hole without air pockets. Your dahlia should be covered with about 6 cm (2in) of soil. At the end of planting, water abundantly once and then regularly for the first 6 weeks to help with rooting.
Dahlias are sensitive to cold, they need to be overwintered under shelter. In November, the first frosts blacken the foliage, so it is time to dig them up. Carefully unearth the tubers. Remove as much soil as possible. Let the foliage dry so that the tubers can replenish their reserves. Then cut the stems down to 10 cm (4in). Spread your bulbs in a crate on newspaper. Store them protected from frost in a dry, cool, and dark place, such as a frost-free garage or an attic. In the southern regions, close to the coast, where there are few frosty days per year, it is possible to leave them in place. In this case, simply cover the ground with a layer of leaves or straw for protection.
This tall dahlia, with its hollow stems, is not resistant to wind or heavy rain. To overcome this drawback, you can stake it but it's not very attractive. On the other hand, by pinching the stems early you can spread out the habit of the plant, which will offer more resistance to bad weather. Alternatively, you can remove the axillary flower buds to channel the flow of sap to a single flower, which will become larger and sturdier, though taller.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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