Description of Dahlia variabilis

• Dahlias flower in late summer until the first hard frost.
• Flowers are plentiful and very colourful
• Tuber grown Dahlias can be 5 feet tall but the annual varieties we are suggesting are good bedding plants up to 12″ high.

Cultivation Tips for Dahlia

• Dahila Bishops Childern is fiery mix of such striking colour, yet with the innocent flower faces of Bishop’s Children.
• Mid-height, and blends extremely well into borders. However, be warned that a colour eruption may occur!
• Spectacular in bedding and containers, and as a cut flower.Height: 60-75cm (24-30 inches). Planting distance 12-18 inches.
• Treat Dahlias grown from seed as annuals. They grow and flower well enough to start again next year.

Special Growing Tips for Dahlia

• Dahlia have been extensively bred and crossed since they were first discovered in Mexico
• Flowers are now available in a wide variety of forms from plain single daisies to complex collarettes and cacti flowered plants

Varieties, Species and Types of Dahlia

• Pompone have round heads of a self-colour but good mixes are available
• Redskin, Bishops Childeren and Showpiece have dark almost purple leaves

Horticulture Sources and Advice

• You can often obtain seeds or plants from our mail order company of choice Thompson & Morgan
• They recommend seed sowing as follows ‘Sow February to April. Germinate at 20-30C on the surface of a good free draining, damp seed compost. Apply a layer of compost or vermiculite, ¼in deep. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 7-21 days. Do not exclude light at any stage, as this helps germination.
• Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into trays or 3in pots. Grow on in cooler, well lit conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 12in apart.’

Credits
Flowers-Dahlien by uwelino CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Dahlia pinnata (Dahlie Flamenco) by Acinet CC BY-NC-SA 2.0