Dahlia Cum Laude

The Dahlia 'Cum Laude' is a variety of Dahlia known as the 'ball' Dahlia whose medium-sized flower possesses a very modern design, both in terms of its perfectly distributed red and white colouration and its extremely regular architecture. Each petal, pure white in colour, is bordered on either side by a vivid red line and forms the basic element of a meticulously organized almost spherical head. The plant, of medium stature, blooms abundantly from summer until the first frosts. Its flowers are remarkable in contemporary-style floral compositions, alongside ferns, lady's mantle, and grasses.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally native to the high plateaus of Mexico. They bear inflorescences in heads, which we commonly refer to as 'flowers'. At present, the approximately 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded gardens all over the world, much to our delight.
The 'Cum Claude' variety has recently been introduced to the horticultural market. The plant will measure approximately 1m (3ft) in height and 60-70cm (24-28in) in diameter after 3 to 4 months of cultivation. It is classified as a decorative Dahlia of Ball type flowers. In this category, the heads have no visible central disc and are composed of numerous regularly arranged petals (ligules), which are often completely spiraled upon themselves, tubular, and never fully open. This category includes varieties that form true balls, such as pompoms (with a diameter of less than 6cm (2in)) and balls (with a diameter of more than 6cm (2in)).  The heads of this Cum Laude variety measure approximately 9cm (4in) in diameter. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if care is taken to remove faded flowers or frequently make bouquets. The highly branched, long, and sturdy stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite, pinnately divided into 3 or 5 deeply toothed lobes. The leaves are fairly dark green, and the stems have a slight purple hue.

To promote repeat flowering, be sure to remove faded flowers or, even better, regularly create large colourful bouquets by combining it with other varieties. 'Cum Laude' produces flowers with a strong personality, perfect for contemporary or baroque bouquets alongside cactus-type varieties, such as white (My Love). This variety will be enhanced by the foliage of fennel or lady's mantle, barley with awns, small miscanthus, both in borders and in vases.

As a star plant in borders and ornamental 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 led it to be recognized as an ornamental plant. The Dahlia, with its infinitely varied shapes and colours, is now considered one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.