Flowers
Dahlias
A multifaceted tuberous plant with many shapes and colours, dahlias became prized for their ornamental beauty soon after arriving in France from the Americas.
You can see the varieties that Monet cultivated, such as the Digoin Star and its close relatives, the red, yellow or mixed Honka varieties, at the end of the path. You can also see quite modern varieties that Monet would undoubtedly have chosen for his garden!
Planted at the very start of the season, they bloom throughout summer until the end of the season. In autumn, the crimson Jet dahlias join the nasturtiums to form a powerfully colourful union along the Clos Normand’s main path. Red dahlias have the honour of featuring in Claude Monet’s artwork ‘Alice Hoschedé in the Garden’ painted in 1881.
Grow them
As happened in Monet’s time, the tuberous bulbs are divided and individually repotted in February in the greenhouse, at a lower heat. They slowly start growing at their own pace until the frost period is over, at which point they already stand around 50 cm high and often have buds ready to bloom. Dahlias must be staked as they grow. Wilted flowers should be removed so the plant can be enjoyed in its full splendour until the first frosts arrive.
