{"product_id":"melissa-anna-marijke-dahlia-tubers","title":"Melissa Anna Marijke Dahlia Tubers","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Melissa Anna Marijke\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Decorative (small)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pinkish-violet upper petals with cherry-red undersides. Dark bronze foliage\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8 to 10cm across\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e July to November\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCutting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Two-tone effect adds interest to arrangements\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single tubers, hand-graded, Dutch first-class quality\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant outdoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e March to July, when soil reaches 15°C (typically May in most of the UK)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e From March. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eMelissa Anna Marijke: Dark Foliage, Two-Tone Petals, and a Name That Takes Some Saying\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMelissa Anna Marijke has one of the longer names in the dahlia world, and one of the more interesting colour tricks. The upper sides of the petals are pinkish-violet, but flip a petal over and the underside is cherry-red. As the flowers nod and move, both colours flash, creating a two-tone effect that adds depth you don't get from a single-colour bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe foliage is dark greeny-bronze, almost black, which sets off the vivid flowers to perfection. At 70cm with a compact 50cm spread, it's one of the shorter dahlias in the range, well suited to the front of a border or a pot. The 8 to 10cm flowers are produced freely from July to the frosts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere to Plant Melissa Anna Marijke\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe dark foliage connects it visually to the Bishop series. Plant alongside \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bishop-of-llandaff-dahlia-tubers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eBishop of Llandaff\u003c\/a\u003e (scarlet, dark foliage, 90cm) for a dark-leaved scheme with contrasting flower colours. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rocco-pom-pom-dahlia-tubers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eRocco\u003c\/a\u003e (fuchsia pompon, 75cm) picks up the purple tones. Salvia and low Heuchera make natural companions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded. We discard undersized tubers so you get a clump with viable eyes, ready to grow. Delivered by next-day courier from March, with our one-year plant guarantee, Feefo Platinum Service Award, and gardeners in Somerset on the phone. Browse the complete \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/dahlia-tubers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003edahlia collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat makes the two-tone colour work?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe violet upper petals and cherry-red undersides create a colour-shift effect as flowers move in the breeze. In a vase, you see both colours as the flowers open and relax. It's a subtle trick that photographs well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Melissa Anna Marijke grow in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 70cm it's one of the best dahlias for containers. Compact, manageable, and the dark foliage looks good even before flowering starts. Use a pot at least 25cm across. Our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/garden-plants\/dahlias-in-pots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003epots guide\u003c\/a\u003e has the detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes the dark foliage fade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dark bronze-green colouring holds through the season. It's most intense on young growth and slightly greener on mature leaves, but the overall dark tone persists. Full growing advice in our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/garden-plants\/how-to-grow-dahlias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003edahlia growing guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Tubers \/ Tuber","offer_id":54999258792262,"sku":"DAHLMELANMA-TUBER","price":5.85,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/melissa-anna-marijke-dahlia-flowers.jpg?v=1755249860","url":"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/melissa-anna-marijke-dahlia-tubers","provider":"Ashridge Nurseries","version":"1.0","type":"link"}