Dahlia Karma Yin Yang

The decorative Dahlia 'Karma Yin Yang' bears spectacular, highly double and perfectly arranged flowers, with ligules or 'petals' pointed red garnet with white. They bloom on dark and sturdy stems, above dark green foliage tinged with purple. The Karma series of Dahlias, originally developed for cut flowers, offers medium-sized, brightly coloured varieties that also have their place in borders and make beautiful potted flowers. 'Yin Yang' blooms from summer to autumn, and its freshly picked flowers can last up to 7 days in a vase.

Dahlias belong to the large family of asters and are originally native to the high plateaus of Mexico. Currently, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded gardens around the world, much to our delight. Dahlias are classified according to the shape of their heads. 'Karma Yin Yang,' introduced in 2002, is a decorative Dahlia. The inflorescences are composed of several rows of almost flat outer ligules. The flowers grouped in heads are globular and measure up to 12 cm (5in) in diameter. The ligules are dark red, tending towards purple, bordered with white. The centre of the flower, tightly packed, is composed of small petals with a nearly black base. The plant will reach approximately 80-90 cm (32-35in) in height and 50 cm (20in) in width. It has a bushy and compact habit, and its sturdy stems do not require any staking. Its leaves are divided into denticulate lobes and are very dark green, sometimes slightly purplish. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or make frequent bouquets.

Today, Dahlias are essential in gardens. They were initially cultivated in Mexico as a root vegetable. Their poor taste quickly relegated them to the status of ornamental plants, but they are still welcome in the vegetable garden to add a splash of color among the vegetables. 'Karma Yin Yang' pairs particularly well with white, red, and 'black' flowers. It is a very 'design' flower, perfect for contemporary floral arrangements.