Dahlia Profundo

Dahlia Profundo is a new variety of decorative dahlia that combines dark foliage with brilliantly coloured flowers: its double flowers are medium-sized, but a vibrant purple-pink with a darker centre, they stand out beautifully against its brown-purple tinted vegetation. It is a very beautiful plant for flowerbeds, superb alongside pink or 'black' flowers, for example. Of medium stature, well-branched, the plant also provides excellent cut flowers from summer to autumn. It will also be appreciated in sunny borders and among low bushes.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaux of Mexico. At present, the few 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have arrived, to our great pleasure, in gardens all over the world.
The 'Profundo' variety, introduced in 2012, is classified among decorative Dahlias, which is a horticultural category defined by the shape of the flower. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head are arranged regularly in a spiral, they can be curved towards the stem or curled, for example. In this variety, the inflorescences in heads are about 10 cm (4in) in diameter and their ligules or petals are oval, slightly tubular. Their purple-pink colour is very bright, the centre of the head is occupied by small, darker, purple petals. Flowering takes place from July to October. The habit is bushy. The very branched stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite, pinnatisect, that is to say, they are divided into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves are very dark green with purple and chocolate highlights, and the stems are very dark.

To promote flowering, take care to cut off faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by associating it with other varieties. 'Profundo' pairs particularly well with very dark flowers or in different shades of pink, English roses, or mauve colours found in phlox. In flowerbeds, this Dahlia combines well with echinaceas and foxglove amaranths, for example, which flower at the same time, as well as daylilies or asters. This variety with very flowery stems allows you to embellish bouquets until late in the season.

As a star plant for borders and kitchen 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. Its poor taste qualities assigned it the status of an ornamental plant.