Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' (D) — Clump forming

Overview

Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' (D) is a clump forming bedding in the genus Dahlia, part of the Asteraceae family, with deciduous foliage. Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' (D) 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.

About

Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial belonging to the Dahlia genus, known for its tuberous roots and finely dissected leaves. This cultivar thrives in full sun and prefers a sheltered position with well-drained, moist soil, suitable for a range of soil types including clay, loam, and sand with varying pH levels. Deciduous in nature, it is hardy to UK zone H3 and is ideal for city and courtyard gardens, coastal areas, cottage and informal gardens, as well as patios and containers. Propagation is achieved through softwood cuttings in spring or by dividing tubers.

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

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 'Purple Shadows' (D) 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

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' (D)

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 'Purple Shadows' (D)?

Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' (D) prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.

What soil does Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' (D) need?

Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' (D) 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 'Purple Shadows' (D) hardy in the UK?

Dahlia 'Purple Shadows' (D) 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 'Purple Shadows' (D)?

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

Browse all Dahlia →