The ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ dahlia is a striking garden plant, celebrated for its unique coloration and classic form. This dahlia cultivar offers a beautiful display, making it a desirable choice for gardeners. Its appealing characteristics and relatively straightforward care contribute to its popularity among both new and experienced growers.
Melissa Anna Marijke Dahlia Characteristics
The ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ dahlia is a decorative dahlia with fully double flowers. Blooms typically measure between 3.5 inches (9 cm) and 4 inches (10 cm) across. The petals exhibit a captivating two-tone effect, with pinkish-violet or lilac-purple hues on the upper surfaces and contrasting dark purple-red, cherry red, or burgundy undersides. This color combination creates dynamic visual interest.
The plant typically grows to a height of 28 to 39 inches (70 to 100 cm), making it suitable for mid-borders or as a focal point. Its foliage is often a dark greeny-bronze, sometimes almost black, providing a striking backdrop for the blooms. This dahlia produces abundant flowers from midsummer until the first frost, offering a long season of color from July through October. It is also an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements.
Essential Care for Melissa Anna Marijke Dahlia
Successful cultivation of the ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ dahlia requires adequate sunlight. These plants thrive in full sun, needing at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily for abundant blooms. While they can tolerate some partial shade, full sun promotes optimal growth and flowering.
Well-draining soil is important for dahlia health, as their tubers are sensitive to excessive moisture. The plant tolerates various soil types, including acidic, clay, loamy, and sandy soils, provided they drain effectively. Regular watering is necessary, ensuring the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged. Avoid overwatering to prevent tuber rot.
The ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ dahlia is generally suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 10. In colder climates (Zones 3-8), tubers are not hardy and must be lifted before the first hard frost. After lifting, tubers should be dried for a few days and then stored in a cool, dry, frost-free location, such as in dry peat moss, until spring planting. Fertilization is recommended once per year.
Planting and Cultivation Best Practices
When planting ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ dahlia tubers, place them approximately 2 inches (5 cm) deep in the soil. Proper spacing is important for adequate air circulation and growth, with tubers typically planted about 20 to 24 inches (50 to 60 cm) apart. Planting should occur after all danger of frost has passed, usually in late May or early June, depending on the climate.
Due to their mature height and generous blooms, ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ dahlias often benefit from staking to provide support and prevent stems from breaking, especially in windy conditions or when flowers become heavy. Deadheading, which involves removing spent blooms, encourages the plant to produce more flowers throughout the season. Pinching out secondary buds can lead to larger individual flowers, though it may result in fewer overall blooms. Maintaining good gardening practices, such as appropriate weeding and feeding, helps deter common pests like slugs and earwigs, and diseases such as powdery mildew.
Acquiring Melissa Anna Marijke Dahlia
Obtaining ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ dahlia tubers is possible through several channels. Specialized dahlia nurseries are a common source, often providing a wide selection of dahlia varieties. Many online retailers also offer these tubers for sale.
Local garden centers may also carry ‘Melissa Anna Marijke’ tubers, particularly during the spring planting season. When acquiring tubers, seek reputable suppliers to ensure the quality and authenticity of the specific cultivar. This helps ensure the plant matches the desired characteristics.