Dahlia 'P.G. Wodehouse' (S-c) — Bushy, clump-forming, tuberous perennial

Overview

Dahlia 'P.G. Wodehouse' (S-c) is a bushy, clump-forming, tuberous perennial bedding in the genus Dahlia, part of the Asteraceae family, with green, occasionally dark-leaved foliage. Dahlia 'P.G. Wodehouse' (S-c) grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include borders, containers and cut flowers.

About

Dahlia 'P.G. Wodehouse' (S-c) is a tuberous, clump-forming herbaceous perennial grown for bedding and cut flowers. It bears foliage that is generally green and can be darker on some plants, with a sustained bloom run from July to October. Plant in full sun on loam with a neutral pH and soil that stays moist but drains freely. Rated H4, it offers average winter hardiness in the UK when sited in a sheltered, south-facing position.

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 'P.G. Wodehouse' (S-c) sits in the genus Dahlia within the family Asteraceae and is supplied for use as a bedding and herbaceous perennial. As a tuberous, clump-forming plant it produces a compact mound of green foliage, occasionally darker on certain cultivars, and carries flowers through July to October. Grow it where it receives full sun; choose loam-based soil of neutral pH that remains moist but is not waterlogged, and aim for a south-facing, sheltered aspect to reduce winter exposure. Its UK hardiness rating is H4, which translates to average hardiness across much of the country; give it a protected spot in colder gardens. Planting in containers or the front to middle of borders suits its habit and allows easy access for cutting. For soil preparation, incorporate organic matter into loam to help retain an even moisture level while maintaining good drainage. Keep the site sunny and sheltered to help extend flowering and preserve foliage condition. Use Dahlia 'P.G. Wodehouse' (S-c) where repeated summer-to-autumn blooms are wanted: it works well in mixed borders, in large containers on a south-facing patio, and as a source of cut flowers from July to October.