Dahlia Summer Haze

The Dahlia 'Summer Haze' is a brand new variety of ball dahlia, with medium-sized pompom-shaped flowers in a beautiful harmony of warm and soft colours including yellow, salmon orange, and magenta-purple. Its flowers are precisely organised in countless tubes, with the inner ones revealing a purple reverse. The plant, of modest stature, blooms abundantly from summer to frost on long purple stems, looking impeccable in bouquets as well as in flower beds.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. They bear inflorescences in heads, commonly referred to as 'flowers' though they carry many smaller flowers. At present, the roughly 25,000 horticultural varieties obtained by humans have invaded gardens worldwide, much to our delight. The 'Summer Haze' variety, still unavailable in the horticultural trade, will measure approximately 70-80 cm (28-32in) in height and 50-60 cm (20-24in) in diameter after 3 to 4 months of cultivation. It is classified as a decorative dahlia of the Ball flower type. In this category, the heads are without a visible central disc and are composed of numerous regularly arranged and completely rolled up petals (ligules) that are tubular and do not flare out. This includes varieties that form true spheres, such as pompoms (with a diameter of less than 6 cm (2in)) and balls (with a diameter of more than 6 cm (2in)). The heads of this 'Summer Haze' variety generally measure 9-10 cm (4in) in diameter. The ligules are initially yellow on the outside and gradually turn to a soft salmon-orange. The centre of the head is occupied by ligules with a purple-magenta reverse, creating a beautiful contrast of colours. The plant has an erect habit, and its stems usually do not require staking. The flowering of this variety begins in July and ends in October-November, if faded flowers are regularly removed or used in bouquets. The habit is bushy and upright. The highly branched, long and sturdy stems are hollow, and the leaves are opposite, pinnately divided into 3 or 5 very toothed lobes. The leaves are dark green here, and the stems are reddish.

To encourage repeat flowering, make sure to remove faded flowers, or even better, regularly make large colourful bouquets by combining it with other varieties. 'Summer Haze' produces beautiful flowers in bouquets, alongside single or pompom varieties in white, orange, or even purple. This variety stands out beautifully against the bronze or purple foliage of fennel or the acidic green of lady's mantle. In flower beds, this cheerful dahlia will create highly colourful spots alongside grasses like crested wheatgrass and asters cordifolius ('Little Carlow'), for example, which bloom at the same time. Its long, highly flowered 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 initially cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. However, its poor taste qualities relegated it to the status of an ornamental plant. The dahlia, with its infinite variety of shapes and colours, is now considered one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.