Dahlia 'La Belle Époque'

La Belle Époque Dahlia (Dahlia pinnata ‘La Belle Époque’) captivates with its large, fully double blooms in warm shades of copper, apricot, and dusty pink. As the flowers mature, their colours subtly evolve, creating a refined, multi-toned display reminiscent of the elegance of old-fashioned gardens. Dense, dark green foliage beautifully highlights the richness of its abundant blooms, which appear from July until the first frost. Reaching approximately 80 to 100 cm (32 to 40 in) tall, this spectacular variety brings softness and sophistication to summer landscapes. Not hardy in Canada, this tuberous perennial is typically grown as an annual, although its tuber can be lifted and stored indoors over winter.

Plant the tuber in spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has thoroughly warmed, approximately 10 to 12 cm (4 to 5 in) deep. Choose a location in full sun with rich, loose, humus-rich, well-drained soil, spacing plants 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) apart. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist without allowing it to become waterlogged. Apply a fertilizer high in potassium every two to three weeks throughout the growing season. Remove spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous bud production. In autumn, lift the tuber before hard frost and store it in a cool, dry, frost-free location until spring.

La Belle Époque Dahlia (Dahlia pinnata ‘La Belle Époque’) is an outstanding choice for romantic borders, colourful garden beds, large containers, and cutting gardens. Its coppery, apricot-toned blooms pair beautifully with cosmos, baby's breath, salvias, pastel-coloured perennials, and ornamental grasses to create elegant, timeless plantings. The large flowers have exceptional vase life and are especially prized for wedding bouquets and refined floral arrangements. When fully open, they also attract bees, butterflies, and many other pollinating insects. Petals harvested from untreated plants may also be used to decorate selected desserts and pastries.