Name: ‘La Belle Époque’ Dahlia
Brand: Van Noort
SKU: VAN-327-406-55
Price: 13.99 CAD
Availability: InStock

Sale Sold out

Upright La Belle Époque dahlia clump approximately 110 cm tall among serrated dark green foliage

Bulb Asteraceae

Van Noort

Dahlia pinnata

From bulb to bloom

Common nameDecorative La Belle Époque dahlia

FamilyAsteraceae

GenusDahlia

CultivarLa Belle Époque

Bulb typeRacine tubéreuse de dahlia

Botanical nameDahlia

Quantity per pack1 tubercule

Bulb sizeNo 1

‘La Belle Époque’ Dahlia (Dahlia × hortensis) ‘La Belle Époque’ is a registered decorative dahlia cultivar whose double flowers reach approximately 12 cm. Pale yellowish-pink florets carry yellow tones along the midrib, while their dark pink reverse gives the flowerhead greater depth. This antique pink and gold palette appears softly powdered or more saturated as blooms open and light changes. Van Noort’s No. 1 tuber forms an upright clump approximately 110 cm tall and 50 cm wide, furnished with serrated dark green foliage. From summer until the first frost, flowers repeat on stems suited to borders, large containers, and cutting. Its carefully layered form brings vintage character without losing the crisp structure of a decorative dahlia.

Plant the tuber in spring after the final frost when soil has warmed. Lay it 10 cm deep with the bud facing upward in fertile, humus-rich, fresh, freely drained soil. Leave 50 cm around the crown, choose full sun, and shelter the plant from strong wind. Install support at planting. Water sparingly before emergence, then deeply at the base whenever the surface dries. Pinch the young shoot at 20 to 30 cm to encourage branching. Mature compost and moderate fertilizer, shifting toward higher potassium as buds appear, support the flowers without producing excessively soft stems. Keep foliage dry in the evening and maintain open airflow around the clump.

Place ‘La Belle Époque’ near a path where its yellow midribs and dark pink reverse can be viewed closely. Pair antique pink with midnight-blue salvias, white gauras, chocolate cosmos, cream zinnias, and copper grasses. Harvest almost open stems early in the morning, then remove faded blooms continuously to encourage new buds. Highly double flowerheads offer limited pollinator access, so include nearby single flowers. In arrangements, a simple vase highlights subtle colour changes. In Canada, lift the tuber after the first frost, allow its surface to dry, label it, and store it in darkness somewhere cool, dry, and frost-free until spring. Inspect it monthly and maintain gentle ventilation.

Light and life cycle

In the garden

Exposure: Full sun
Life cycle: Perennial
Hardiness: Zone 10

Planting and establishment

Planting guide

Planting & establishment

Planting depth

Environ 10 cm

Spacing / density

Environ 50 cm entre les plants; un tubercule par grand pot.

Establishment temperature

Sol à environ 16 °C ou plus

Rooting time

Environ 3 semaines en pot; délai variable selon les conditions

Planting period

Printemps, après les derniers gels

Propagation

Division of tubers, each bearing a viable bud

Growing method

En pleine terre ou dans un grand pot percé, au soleil, dans un sol fertile et bien drainé. Installer un tuteur dès la plantation.

Soil and care

Soil & care

Soil pH

Slightly acidic to neutral

Moisture

Sol frais, sans excès d’eau

Minimum temperature

5 °C (41 °F)

Care level

Moderate

Watering

Modéré et régulier pendant la croissance, sans eau stagnante.

Soil type

Fertile, humifère et bien drainé

Fertilization

Incorporate mature compost before planting. During early growth, use balanced fertilizer low to moderate in nitrogen, then favour higher potassium when buds appear. Follow the labelled rate and water afterward. Excess nitrogen produces soft stems, abundant leaves, and fewer flowers.

Seasonal care

In spring, inspect the tuber, remove only rotted tissue, and plant after the final frost once soil has warmed. Install support immediately. Until emergence, avoid repeated watering. In early summer, pinch the shoot at 20 or 30 cm, tie new stems, and keep soil fresh without saturation. From bud formation, feed moderately with greater potassium. Through summer, water deeply at the base during dry periods, harvest fully open blooms, and remove faded heads continuously. Monitor slugs, aphids, earwigs, spider mites, and grey mould. After the first frost, cut the stems, lift the tuber carefully, allow its surface to dry, label La Belle Époque, and store it in darkness somewhere cool, dry, and frost-free. Inspect it monthly throughout winter. Remove faded blooms before seeds develop so the clump directs its energy toward new buds until the first frost arrives. Always water slowly at soil level, then let the upper layer breathe to balance freshness, oxygen, and free drainage around the tuber. Pale yellowish pink, yellow, and dark pink tones combine especially well with blue, white, or purple perennials and lightly textured grasses.

Growing in containers

Container growing

Recommended pot size

Deep, very stable 40 to 50 L container

Choose a stable 40 to 50 L container with many drainage holes and a rich yet airy growing mix. Plant one tuber 10 cm deep and set support into the pot before roots expand. Keep the container in full sun, sheltered from strong gusts. Water sparingly until emergence, then thoroughly whenever the upper layer dries; always empty the saucer. Apply moderate liquid feeding richer in potassium from bud formation. Rotate the pot weekly, pinch the shoot to encourage branching, and remove faded blooms. Before frost, move the container under cover or lift the tuber for cool, dry, dark, frost-free storage through winter. Remove faded blooms before seeds develop so the clump directs its energy toward new buds until the first frost arrives. Always water slowly at soil level, then let the upper layer breathe to balance freshness, oxygen, and free drainage around the tuber. Pale yellowish pink, yellow, and dark pink tones combine especially well with blue, white, or purple perennials and lightly textured grasses.

Growth and flowering

Size, flowering & harvest

Mature height

Environ 90 cm

Width / spread

Jusqu’à 50 cm

Flower color

Pale yellowish pink, yellow midribs, dark pink reverse

Foliage color

Green

Foliage type

Deciduous

Growth rate

Fast

Growth habit

Dressé, en touffe

Fragrance

Non parfumé

Bloom period

Flowering generally begins in midsummer and continues until the first frost. Pinch young shoots to encourage branching, remove faded blooms continuously, and harvest fully open stems. For an especially large 10 cm flowerhead, remove the side buds.

Harvest

July to October. Cut fully open flowers for the best vase life.

Garden companions

Garden associations

Companion plants & uses

Companion plants

Pair its antique pink and yellow tones with blue salvias, white gauras, chocolate cosmos, purple coneflowers, violet verbenas, and airy grasses. Avoid very dense neighbours that block airflow around foliage or plants requiring constantly saturated soil. Remove faded blooms before seeds develop so the clump directs its energy toward new buds until the first frost arrives.

Other recommended plants

Associez-le à des sauges bleues, des cosmos blancs ou des graminées légères, au soleil.

Garden use

Place La Belle Époque near the centre of a border, beside a cutting-garden path, or in a large container where its complex gradient remains visible. Repeat two or three plants at 50 cm to create a antique pink rhythm without forming an overly dense mass. Use airy grasses behind and white gauras or blue salvias in front so stems remain visible. Discreet support prevents 12 cm flowerheads from leaning after rain. Harvest regularly for arrangements and remove faded blooms to maintain the display until frost. Keep the base accessible in autumn because the tuber must be lifted and stored away from freezing in cold Canadian regions. Remove faded blooms before seeds develop so the clump directs its energy toward new buds until the first frost arrives. Always water slowly at soil level, then let the upper layer breathe to balance freshness, oxygen, and free drainage around the tuber. Pale yellowish pink, yellow, and dark pink tones combine especially well with blue, white, or purple perennials and lightly textured grasses.

Frequently asked questions

When should La Belle Époque dahlia be planted?

Plant the tuber after the final frost once soil has warmed and no longer remains saturated. Lay it 10 cm deep with its bud upward in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Leave 50 cm around the crown and install support immediately. In cold regions, starting it in a pot four to six weeks earlier may advance growth, but acclimatize the shoot gradually before moving it outdoors. Water very sparingly until emergence to prevent rot, then increase moisture when stems and roots become active. Full sun develops sturdy stems, repeated flowering, and the characteristic antique pink colour through summer and early autumn.

What is the exact colour of La Belle Époque?

The International Dahlia Register describes both outer and inner florets as pale yellowish pink, with yellow tones along the midrib and a dark pink reverse. The RHS summarizes this palette as candy pink with a hint of gold at the centre. Decorative flowers reach approximately 12 cm. Their appearance shifts with opening stage, viewing angle, and light, explaining antique pink, soft copper, or apricot impressions sometimes seen in photographs. The registered description nevertheless remains pale yellowish pink, yellow, and dark pink. Place the plant near a path so every transition can be viewed closely as flowers mature. throughout flowering.

Is La Belle Époque suitable for arrangements?

Yes. Its 12 cm decorative flowers provide a versatile size, and upright stems are easy to harvest. Cut early in the morning when the flowerhead is almost fully open because a tightly closed dahlia bud will not open properly after harvest. Use a clean tool, remove leaves that would sit below water, and place the stem immediately into a fresh bucket. Indoors, refresh water daily and trim the stem ends lightly. Regular cutting combined with removal of faded blooms encourages the clump to produce new buds until the first frost. A simple vase highlights the yellow midribs and dark pink reverses especially well.

Can La Belle Époque grow in a container?

Yes. Use a stable 40 to 50 L container that is deep, generously perforated, and filled with a rich yet airy growing mix. Plant one tuber 10 cm deep and insert support before roots expand. Set the pot in full sun with shelter from strong gusts. Water sparingly before emergence, then thoroughly whenever the upper layer dries, never leaving water in the saucer. Apply moderate liquid feeding richer in potassium as buds form. Rotate the container weekly, pinch the young shoot to encourage branching, and remove faded flowers to maintain a balanced outline and continuous production of antique pink blooms through summer.

How should La Belle Époque be overwintered in Canada?

After the first frost blackens foliage, cut the stems while leaving a short section. Lift the tuber with a fork, working far enough away to avoid injury. Gently remove excess soil, let its surface dry in a ventilated place, and label La Belle Époque clearly. Store it in darkness somewhere cool, dry, and frost-free, using a lightly insulating material that limits shrivelling without holding water. Inspect it monthly. Remove only sections showing active rot and increase ventilation if condensation appears. Wait until after the final spring frost, when soil is warm and drains freely, before planting the tuber outdoors again.

Wildlife and pets

Wildlife & precautions

Reported toxicity

Yes

Supporting wildlife

Highly double flowers hide almost all of their disc and offer little accessible pollen or nectar. Their value is mainly ornamental. Support wildlife by pairing this dahlia with salvias, sweet alyssum, verbenas, and other simple flowers. Avoid insecticides, provide shallow clean water, and maintain several flowering periods in the border.