Plant Profile - Dahlias

Dahlias
By Trips Secretary, Elizabeth Rees

Dahlias are the supreme late summer and autumn flower. They sparkle in soft light and continue to send out new blooms until the first frosts. They are grouped into 14 different categories depending on the structure of the flower, and come in every colour except true blue. Flowers range from tiny, ball like pompom types to medium sized cactus dahlias and enormous decorative ones.

Any dahlias that grow more than 60-70cm will need support. They are very heavy feeders so when they are planted out once danger of frost is over, add a handful of blood fish and bone around each plant, and repeat every 8-10 weeks.

If you leave dahlias tubers in the ground over winter, wait until frost has blackened the foliage, then cut the stems back below soil level, and mulch thickly to protect them over winter. If you prefer to lift the tubers, again wait until frost has blackened the foliage, then dig them up, remove the soil, and place upside down in boxes of scrunched up newspaper or dry sand in cool, frost free place. Check regularly for signs of disease.

There are many varieties of dahlias to choose from. Some have dark leaves, the most well known being 'Bishop of Llandaff' but there are others worth considering such as 'Fascination', 'Classic Swanlake', 'Moonfire' and David Howard.

Ball like varieties include 'Cornel Brons' and 'Brown Sugar'. Recommended cactus varieties include 'Kenora Jubilee', 'Black-Jack' and 'Embrace'.

Decorative varieties such as 'Arablan Night', 'Blue Bell', Cafe Au Lait', 'Crazy Legs' and 'Daisy Duke' are all beautiful. If you prefer single flowered varieties try any of the Bishop series, 'Happy Kiss' or 'Mystic Dreamer'.

Most of these dahlias are available from Pheasant Acre Plants https://www.pheasantacreplants.co.uk/.