Dahlia Jowey Provence

Dahlia 'Jowey Provence' adds to the excellent collection of dahlias "Jowey" with a unique colour, randomly striped, flamed and speckled with red. It is a variety of Dahlia called 'ball' whose ball-shaped flowers are precisely and curiously organized into countless alveoli. The plant blooms abundantly, from summer to frost, and has a bushy and upright habit, supported by long stems, with impeccable performance in bouquets as well as in the background of borders.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family, they are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico and bear inflorescences in heads, which we commonly call 'flowers'. Currently, the few 75,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded, for our greatest pleasure, gardens all over the world.

The variety 'Jowey Provence', a very recent creation, will measure approximately 90cm (35in) in height and 60cm (24in) in diameter after 3 to 4 months of cultivation. It is classified as a Dahlia of the decorative group with ball-type flowers. In this category, the heads have no visible central disc and are composed of numerous regular petals (ligules) completely rolled up on themselves. They are tubular and never open up. We find varieties that form true balls, like the pompoms (diameter less than 6cm (2in)) and the balls (diameter greater than 6cm (2in)). The heads of this variety 'Jowey Provence' generally measure 10cm (4in) in diameter. The plant has an upright habit, and its stems sometimes require staking. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if faded flowers are removed or frequently used in bouquets. The habit is bushy and upright. The very branched, long and sturdy stems are hollow and the leaves are opposite, pinnately lobed, meaning they are divided into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves and stems are a vibrant green.

To promote flowering again, take care to remove faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining it with other varieties. 'Jowey Provence' produces beautiful flowers in bouquets, along with single or pompon-type varieties, white, yellow, orange or even red to almost black. This variety stands out beautifully against the green or purple foliage of fennel or the acid green of lady's mantle. In borders, this cheerful Dahlia will create very vibrant spots alongside grasses, asters and Echinaceas, for example, which bloom at the same time. Its long and very floriferous stems allow for the addition of bouquets 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. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. But its poor taste qualities assigned it the status of an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.