Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) — Clump forming

Overview

Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) is a clump forming bedding in the genus Dahlia, part of the Asteraceae family, with deciduous foliage. Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H3. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, coastal, cottage and informal garden and patio and container plants. It is native to Western South America, Mexico and Central America.

About

A clump-forming bedding dahlia, Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) produces a season of summer and autumn bloom from July to October. It is a deciduous, herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family native to Western South America, Mexico and Central America. Plant it in full sun in a sheltered, south- or west-facing position. Suits a range of soils so long as they remain moist but well drained.

About the genus

Dahlias come from the high meadows of Mexico, and somewhere in that heritage is the explanation for how they behave here: tender to frost, hungry, generous beyond all reason. No other plant gives you quite so much for so little. One tuber, planted after the last frost, becomes a shrub's worth of flowers by August — and the more you cut, the more they come.The range is faintly ridiculous. Tight pompoms, spiky cactus types, singles the bees adore, dinner-plates the size of your face. Whatever your garden's mood, there is a dahlia that agrees with it, which is probably why every generation falls out of love with them and then, a decade later, falls straight back in.They're at their best when much of the garden is winding down — late summer into autumn, flowering hard until the first frost calls time. I think of them as the encore. And they always play it.

Written by Henry

In the garden

Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) sits within the Asteraceae and is treated as a bedding, herbaceous perennial with a clump-forming habit. Native to Western South America, Mexico and Central America, it flowers in the UK from July to October. Its foliage is deciduous, so it dies back outside the growing season. For reliable performance give it full sun and shelter from prevailing winds by choosing a south- or west-facing aspect. It tolerates clay, loam or sand and will grow in acid, neutral or alkaline soils; the key is to keep the root area moist but well drained rather than waterlogged. In UK terms it is H3 (borderline), so a protected site that avoids exposure to severe frost will extend its reliable performance. It has a place in city and courtyard gardens, coastal settings, cottage and informal beds, and on patios or in containers where a sheltered aspect can be provided. Plant in groups for a coherent display and situate where the summer–autumn flowering period from July to October can be appreciated; a west-facing patio is often ideal for evening colour and shelter combined.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Dahlia

Sunlight: Full sun
Soil type: Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH: Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture: Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect: South-facing, West-facing
Exposure: Sheltered
UK hardiness: H3

Plant details

Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Bedding, Herbaceous Perennial
Habit: Clump forming
Foliage: Deciduous
Suggested uses: City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Native to: Western South America, Mexico, Central America

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c)

Propagation: Propagate by softwood cuttings taken in spring from shoots from stored tubers, or divide the tubers ensuring each division has a viable bud
Pest resistance: May be susceptible to aphids, leaf miners, glasshouse red spider mite and slugs. Earwigs sometimes damage blooms. Capsid bug and caterpillars are occasional pests
Disease resistance: May be susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions. In wet weather grey moulds and other fungal rots can be a problem. Fungal rots can also damage stored tubers. A virus may cause stunting, leaf markings and distortion

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to plant Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c)?

Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.

What soil does Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) need?

Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including clay, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained to well-drained.

Is Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) hardy in the UK?

Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c) has an RHS hardiness rating of H3, meaning it is half-hardy, tolerating -5 to 1°C, and may need winter protection in colder areas.

How do I propagate Dahlia 'Daleko Venus' (S-c)?

Propagate by softwood cuttings taken in spring from shoots from stored tubers, or divide the tubers ensuring each division has a viable bud.

More in the Dahlia genus

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