If there’s a golden retriever pet of the plant world, it must be a dahlia. I imply, everyone loves golden retriever puppies, proper? And everybody loves dahlias, too. They’re cheerful, charismatic, and filled with character.
This yr, I solely added one dahlia to the gardens at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens—Dahlia ‘Mystic Phantasm.’ And what a selection it turned out to be. Planted in late April, it’s nonetheless blooming sturdy properly 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 sequence, a set of dahlias identified for his or her hanging darkish foliage and vibrant, single-petaled flowers. This explicit selection options massive, sunshine-yellow blooms perched atop near-black leaves, creating one of the vital eye-catching coloration contrasts within the backyard. It’s a patented plant, which implies you gained’t discover actual copies elsewhere, and in my expertise, it outshines a few of its closest relations.
I used to be already acquainted with Dahlia ‘Yellow Hammer,’ an analogous 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 inclined to get misplaced within the foliage. Not with ‘Mystic Phantasm.’ This selection holds its flowers properly 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 thus far, it’s dwelling as much as the promise. It has a pleasant, compact progress behavior—about 24 to 36 inches tall—which makes it a superb selection for borders, containers, or wherever you desire a dependable burst of coloration.
Like most dahlias, ‘Mystic Phantasm’ is barely hardy in USDA Zone 9 and hotter, so right here in Maine, it’s an annual. Nevertheless, it’s straightforward to dig up and retailer the tubers over winter, if you wish to hold them going yr after yr. Merely elevate the tubers after the primary frost, allow them to dry, and retailer them in a cool, darkish place till spring.
Given how properly ‘Mystic Phantasm’ has carried out, I’m already planning so as to add extra of the Mystic dahlia sequence subsequent yr. If this primary one is any indication, they’re going to be a success. I’ve additionally seen that guests constantly 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 sequence? Let me know—I’d love to listen to about your expertise.
—Rodney