The British Dahlia Guide
Dahlias are Britain's autumn obsession, and deservedly so. Here is the complete guide to the major types, the best varieties for cutting, and how to grow and care for them.
The dahlia is Mexico's national flower, but it has found perhaps its most devoted following in Britain. The National Dahlia Society was founded in 1881 and is still active. The RHS gives dahlias their own section at Chelsea and Hampton Court. Every summer, the dahlia show circuit attracts growers of extraordinary seriousness competing with blooms the size of dinner plates in colours that seem almost impossible.
The major dahlia groups
Best varieties for cutting
Top dahlia varieties for cutting
- Cafe au Lait: blush-champagne dinner-plate, the most photographed dahlia in the world
- Thomas Edison: deep royal purple ball dahlia, extraordinary colour
- Karma Choc: near-black pompom with a velvet quality
- Arabian Night: rich deep red-black decorative, intense and dramatic
- Penhill Watermelon: coral-pink giant decorative with warm tones
- Bishop of Llandaff: vivid red single with dark foliage, a classic British garden variety
Cutting and conditioning dahlias
Cut dahlias in the early morning or evening, not in the heat of the day. Immediately plunge the cut stems into deep, cold water. Dahlias have hollow stems: some growers turn them upside down and fill the stem cavity with water before plugging with a small piece of cotton wool before placing in the vase. This is not strictly necessary with good conditioning, but it can extend vase life. Change water daily: dahlias dirty their water quickly.
“A 'Cafe au Lait' dahlia at full bloom is one of the finest flowers you will ever hold. The colour shifts from bud to full open in a way that no photograph quite captures.”
Continue reading
Summer Flowers: Britain's Garden at Full Bloom
British summer produces a flower display that rivals anywhere in the world. Here is what is available, when, and how to make the most of it.
Read more →Autumn Flowers: The Season Most People Miss
Most people think of spring as the flower season. Autumn is just as extraordinary, and far less crowded. Here is what Britain grows from September to November.
Read more →Building a Cutting Garden
A cutting garden is one of the most rewarding things you can grow. Here is how to design, plant, and maintain a patch that produces beautiful flowers from spring to autumn.
Read more →