Feel like a touch of Christmas in the middle to end of summer? Dahlia 'Mercator' could do that for you. This very large cactus dahlia looks a lot like a bunch of candy canes shooting out from the centre. Thin red stripes appear on the long vanilla tubular petals providing that image of the Christmas treat. They are also reminiscent of a Mercator Projection – a cylindrical map introduced during the 16^th Century and used nautically because its course lines are straight. In the flower the red lines radiate straight from the centre. This flower can reach 9inches or 22,5cm, so it’s “map” will certainly give your garden direction.

The flower of Dahlia 'Mercator' can reach 9 inches or 22,5 cm, so it’s map will certainly give your garden direction.