About
Fls to 85mm wide; florets (upper surface) white N155B, shading, towards the margins, very pale purple 69D, then dark purplish red N79B, becoming strong purplish red 64B at the margins, with moderate red 179B and moderate reddish yellow 179C at the base; florets (lower surface) white N155B, shading to light purple 75B at the margins on the upper half of the florets, with margins at the base shading through moderate red 179B to dark purplish red N79C at the margins at the base, with moderate reddish yellow 179C at the base. Stem to 0.8m, greenish with purple or red-brown.
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 typeLoam, Chalk, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming, Columnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 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 enriched with organic matter, in full sun. Pinch out growing tips to encourage bushy plants and stake - see staking perennials. Water if needed in dry periods. Lift and store tubers in autumn to replant, or use as a source of cuttings, in spring. See dahlia cultivation and our video How to plant dahlia tubers and care tips
PruningDeadhead to prolong flowering. Cut back to near ground level in the autumn, before lifting and storing for the winter or mulching in milder locations
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings taken in spring from shoots from stored tubers, or divide the tubers ensuring each division has a viable bud
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, leaf miners, glasshouse red spider mite and slugs. Earwigs sometimes damage blooms. Capsid bug and caterpillars are occasional pests
Disease resistanceMay 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