If there is a golden retriever puppy of the plant world, it has to be a dahlia. I mean, everybody loves golden retriever puppies, right? And everyone loves dahlias, too. They’re cheerful, charismatic, and full of personality.
This year, I only added one dahlia to the gardens at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens—Dahlia ‘Mystic Illusion.’ And what a choice it turned out to be. Planted in late April, it’s still blooming strong well into fall. That alone is impressive, but there’s more to love about this plant.
Bred by renowned New Zealand hybridizer Dr. Keith Hammett , Dahlia ‘Mystic Illusion’ is part of the Mystic seriesa collection of dahlias known for their striking dark foliage and bright, single-petaled flowers. This particular variety features large, sunshine-yellow blooms perched atop near-black leavescreating one of the most eye-catching color contrasts in the garden. It’s a patented plant, which means you won’t find exact copies elsewhere, and in my experience, it outshines some of its closest relatives.
I was already familiar with Dahlia ‘Yellow Hammer,’ a similar yellow-flowered dahlia, but ‘Mystic Illusion’ takes things up a notch. One of the biggest frustrations I’ve had with Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ and ‘Yellow Hammer’ is that their blooms tend to get lost in the foliage. Not with ‘Mystic Illusion.’ This variety holds its flowers well above the leavesmaking sure those golden blooms are always on display.
Another major perk? No staking required. Dahlias are notorious for flopping over, but ‘Mystic Illusion’ is touted as self-supporting, and so far, it’s living up to the promise. It has a nice, compact growth habit—about 24 to 36 inches tall—which makes it an excellent choice for borders, containers, or anywhere you want a reliable burst of color.
Like most dahlias, ‘Mystic Illusion’ is only hardy in USDA Zone 9 and warmerso here in Maine, it’s an annual. However, it’s easy to dig up and store the tubers over winterif you want to keep them going year after year. Simply lift the tubers after the first frost, let them dry, and store them in a cool, dark place until spring.
Given how well ‘Mystic Illusion’ has performed, I’m already planning to add more of the Mystic dahlia series next year. If this first one is any indication, they’re going to be a hit. I’ve also noticed that visitors consistently stop to admire this plant, so it’s not just me who’s impressed.
Do you grow dahlias in your garden? Have you tried any of the Mystic series? Let me know—I’d love to hear about your experience.
—Rodney
