Classed as ‘Decorative Dahlias’, these tender perennials feature broad, flat-tipped petals with an occasional wavy texture. The flowers themselves are normally large, with petals that are either formally and evenly placed around the stem, or informally, where the petals sometimes bear a slight roll at the tips.

• Half-Hardy
• Flowering Period: June- October

• Any fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil
• Full Sun / Partial Shade
• Sheltered
• Plant outside after risk of frost has passed, 15cm deep, 60cm apart; or start off in pots under glass in late winter to early spring. For early flowering, tubers may be started off in individual pots under glass from March. Once the last of the frosts have passed in mid to late May your dahlias can be transferred into the garden.

Feed weekly, and water well in hot weather. The tall flower stems will require staking and tying in, but this is well worth the trouble for the magnificent display that they produce. To encourage flowers, keep picking! Lift the tubers once the foliage has died back and store in a frost-free location in slightly moist sand or compost.