Pollinators dark and exquisite dahlia collection
dahlia collection
This distinctive dahlia collection combines deep wine, crimson and near-black shades with flashes of sugar pink and golden yellow. The predominantly open, star-like flowers give the planting an airy, natural character, while contrasting bronze-flushed foliage and dark centres add depth and interest.
Plant together in sunny borders or containers for a sophisticated late-summer display, or weave through ornamental grasses and other informal perennials for a more naturalistic planting style.
The open flower forms provide easy access for pollinating insects, while regular cutting encourages a succession of blooms from midsummer into early autumn, making these dahlias particularly useful for a cut flower garden.
Plant together in sunny borders or containers for a sophisticated late-summer display, or weave through ornamental grasses and other informal perennials for a more naturalistic planting style.
The open flower forms provide easy access for pollinating insects, while regular cutting encourages a succession of blooms from midsummer into early autumn, making these dahlias particularly useful for a cut flower garden.
How to care for Pollinators Dark and Exquisite dahlia collection:
We offer this Dahlia collection, where available, as tubers and ready potted plants.
Dahlia tubers can be planted outside after frost, or started off in pots under glass in late winter to early spring. Plant them horizontally approximately 12cm (5in) deep, making sure the ‘eyes’ are uppermost. Allow enough room between each tuber so the plants can grow and spread to their full size without being over-crowded.
Potted plants should be protected from frost in a well-lit location such as a frost-free greenhouse, cold porch, or cold-frame. Gradually acclimatise (harden-off) in mid-late spring before planting out into borders, protecting from late frosts with cloches or horticultural fleece.
While in growth, provide a high-nitrogen liquid feed each week in June, then a high-potash fertiliser each week from July to September. Stake with canes or brushwood if it becomes necessary. In mild areas, leave them in situ over winter, but protect the crown with a generous layer of dry mulch.
In colder areas, carefully lift and clean the tubers once the first frosts have blackened the foliage and allow them to dry naturally indoors. Then place the dry tubers in a shallow tray, just covered with slightly moist potting compost, sand or vermiculite and store in a frost-free place until planting out again.
Dahlia tubers can be planted outside after frost, or started off in pots under glass in late winter to early spring. Plant them horizontally approximately 12cm (5in) deep, making sure the ‘eyes’ are uppermost. Allow enough room between each tuber so the plants can grow and spread to their full size without being over-crowded.
Potted plants should be protected from frost in a well-lit location such as a frost-free greenhouse, cold porch, or cold-frame. Gradually acclimatise (harden-off) in mid-late spring before planting out into borders, protecting from late frosts with cloches or horticultural fleece.
While in growth, provide a high-nitrogen liquid feed each week in June, then a high-potash fertiliser each week from July to September. Stake with canes or brushwood if it becomes necessary. In mild areas, leave them in situ over winter, but protect the crown with a generous layer of dry mulch.
In colder areas, carefully lift and clean the tubers once the first frosts have blackened the foliage and allow them to dry naturally indoors. Then place the dry tubers in a shallow tray, just covered with slightly moist potting compost, sand or vermiculite and store in a frost-free place until planting out again.
What's included:
Each collection contains the following bulbs:
- 1 × Dahlia 'Pretty Woman': A compact, single-flowered cultivated variety with sugar-pink petals arranged singly around a dark purple eye. Flowering from mid-summer into early autumn, its blooms contrast sharply with its bronze-flushed foliage. Perfect for pots and borders, its single flowers offers easy access for visiting pollinators and is well suited as a cut flower. Grows to 30cm.
- 1 × Dahlia 'Night Butterfly': Great for cut flowers, Dahlia ‘Night Butterfly’ has deep red, velvety petals and a red-flushed white collarette round a golden yellow centre. In flower from July to September, this bi-coloured beauty would work well with the similarly coloured Knautia macedonica or the pinkish tones of Phlox paniculata 'Franz Schubert'. Grows to 90cm.
- 1 × Dahlia 'Honka Vino': Rich wine-red flowers bring a dramatic touch to summer planting, with slender, pointed petals radiating from a prominent golden-yellow centre. The open, star-like blooms of Dahlia 'Honka Vino' have an elegant character, while their deep colouring gives them plenty of interest without the bulk of a fully double dahlia. Grows to 60cm.
- 1 × Dahlia 'Verrone's Obsidian': A single row of inrolled, deepest red (near black) petals surround a sunburst-like eye, which acts as a beacon to bees. The simple (but stunning) star-shaped flowers of Dahlia 'Verrone's Obsidian' look particularly good in naturalised settings and mix really well with ornamental grasses. Grows to 60cm.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or peat-free general purpose compost
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
-
This bulb dies back after flowering each year and enters a period of rest ahead of regrowth the following season.
-
Humans/Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten
