New dahlia cultivar just dazzling

BY LYNDA PAPESCH

The newest dahlia offers stunning red flowers against shiny black foliage, with the flowers fading to burnt orange as they age. Bred by New Zealand's Dr Keith Hammett, `Mystic Desire' flowers continuously through late spring into summer and is suitable for mass plantings and hot and dry areas, and as a medium-level garden filler.

Low maintenance and relatively disease-resistant, `Mystic Desire' grows best in full sun in moist but drained soils. It grows to 80 centimetres with a 60cm spread.

Other Keith Hammett dahlia cultivars to watch out for include:

Dahlia `Mystic Illusion' – mahogany to black foliage topped with zesty yellow sunflower-like blooms with an elegant dark central disc.

Dahlia `Mystic Spirit' – mahogany to black foliage topped with soft apricot ribbed blooms with blush peach overtones and elegant dark centres.

Dahlia `Mystic Dreamer' – mahogany to black foliage topped with soft pink and white striped blooms with an elegant dark central disc.

Dahlias are often grown in perennial borders and beds and also by themselves. They come in a huge range of forms and colours, with dense masses of foliage ranging from pale to deep green and black and flowers in a wide variety of colours, except for blue. Types include cacti, singles and pompoms.

Tips for growing dahlias:

Plant in late September or early October.

Plant in full sun.

Plant in well-cultivated, well-drained soil with plenty of humus.

Cultivate surface soil until plants are about 30cm high, then stop so as not to damage feeder roots near the surface.

Mulch to keep down weeds and conserve moisture.

Plant bulbs 20cm deep.

Allow at least 90cm between larger plants for feeder roots to spread.

Pinch out the tops after the second set of leaves has developed to encourage flower stalk formation.

Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods.

Add a small amount of potash.

Use stakes to avoid stem breakage.

- The Marlborough Express