If there’s a golden retriever pet of the plant world, it must be a dahlia. I imply, all people loves golden retriever puppies, proper? And everybody loves dahlias, too. They’re cheerful, charismatic, and stuffed with persona.
This 12 months, I solely added one dahlia to the gardens at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens—Dahlia ‘Mystic Phantasm.’ And what a alternative it turned out to be. Planted in late April, it’s nonetheless blooming robust nicely into fall. That alone is spectacular, however there’s extra to like about this plant.
Bred by famend New Zealand hybridizer Dr. Keith Hammett , Dahlia ‘Mystic Phantasm’ is a part of the Mystic collection, a group of dahlias recognized for his or her placing darkish foliage and brilliant, single-petaled flowers. This specific selection options giant, sunshine-yellow blooms perched atop near-black leaves, creating one of the crucial eye-catching colour contrasts within the backyard. It’s a patented plant, which implies you gained’t discover precise copies elsewhere, and in my expertise, it outshines a few of its closest relations.
I used to be already aware of Dahlia ‘Yellow Hammer,’ an identical yellow-flowered dahlia, however ‘Mystic Phantasm’ takes issues up a notch. One of many largest frustrations I’ve had with Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ and ‘Yellow Hammer’ is that their blooms are likely to get misplaced within the foliage. Not with ‘Mystic Phantasm.’ This selection holds its flowers nicely above the leaves, ensuring these golden blooms are all the time on show.
One other main perk? No staking required. Dahlias are infamous for flopping over, however ‘Mystic Phantasm’ is touted as self-supporting, and to date, it’s residing as much as the promise. It has a pleasant, compact development behavior—about 24 to 36 inches tall—which makes it a wonderful alternative for borders, containers, or anyplace you desire a dependable burst of colour.
Like most dahlias, ‘Mystic Phantasm’ is simply hardy in USDA Zone 9 and hotter, so right here in Maine, it’s an annual. Nonetheless, it’s simple to dig up and retailer the tubers over winter, if you wish to preserve them going 12 months after 12 months. Merely raise the tubers after the primary frost, allow them to dry, and retailer them in a cool, darkish place till spring.
Given how nicely ‘Mystic Phantasm’ has carried out, I’m already planning so as to add extra of the Mystic dahlia collection subsequent 12 months. If this primary one is any indication, they’re going to be a success. I’ve additionally observed that guests persistently cease to admire this plant, so it’s not simply me who’s impressed.
Do you develop dahlias in your backyard? Have you ever tried any of the Mystic collection? Let me know—I’d love to listen to about your expertise.
—Rodney
Extra nice Dahlias and vegetation with black foliage: