About
A tuberous-rooted perennial to about 60cm with almost black foliage. Flowers, in late summer and autumn, have a single row of rich red petals with an open, yellow centre.
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
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationPlant tubers 10-15cm deep in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, in full sun. Cut back to near ground level in mid-autumn. In mild areas, and on well-drained soils, leave the tubers in the ground and protect with a deep, organic mulch. In colder areas, or on heavy soils, lift and store the tubers and replant in late spring after all danger of frost has passed. See dahlia cultivation and our video How to plant dahlia tubers and care tips
PruningDeadhead to prolong flowers
PropagationPropagate by basal softwood cuttings taken in spring from shoots from stored tubers, or divide clumps of tubers ensuring that each division has a viable bud
Pest resistanceMay susceptible to aphids, capsid bug, earwigs, caterpillars, slugs, glasshouse red spider mite and onion thrips
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, Dahlia mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, storage rots, leafy gall, crown gall, dahlia smut, grey moulds, fungal leaf spot, Phytophthora, Sclerotinia and Verticillium wilts