About
A bushy, tuberous perennial to around 1.2m high, with serrated green leaves. Decorative white flowers to 8cm across, touched with yellow-green in the centre, are produced from late summer to early autumn.
About the genus
Dahlia are tuberous rooted perennials with pinnately divided leaves and showy flowerheads, double in many cultivars, in summer and autumn
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial, Bedding
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, in full sun. Pinch out growing tips to encourage bushy plants. Plants will need support, see staking perennials. Water if needed in dry periods. Lift and store tubers in autumn, particularly in heavy soils, or mulch well to protect from frosts. See dahlia cultivation, and our video How to plant dahlia tubers and care tips, for more advice
PruningDeadhead to prolong flowering. Cut back to near ground level in the autumn
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings, taken in spring from shoots from stored tubers, or by division, ensuring each tuber has at least one viable bud
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, capsid bugs, caterpillars, leaf miners, glasshouse red spider mite and slugs. Earwigs sometimes damage blooms
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions, and to grey moulds and other fungal rots in wet weather. Virus diseases may cause stunting, leaf markings and distortion. Fungal rots can also damage stored tubers