Garden Flowers: Dahlias…adding a splash of colour to your borders

2 Written by Lisa on 9th Sep 2013 in Garden Flowers, Plants

Dahlia Vals Candy at RHS Wisley Flower Show 2013 Lisa Cox

I hope you had a lovely weekend. This month’s Garden Flowers post, which I write with Rona Wheeldon of Flowerona, features the dahlia.

Over the last few years, this wonderful bloom has started to become popular again…not only in our gardens, but also as a cut flower in the floristry industry.

Dahlia Teesbrook Redeye Lisa Cox

Dahlia Teesbrook Redeye at RHS Wisley Flower Show Lisa Cox

Named after Andreas Dahl, a Swedish botanist, there are nine distinct flower forms of dahlia, plus a tenth group of miscellaneous.

Varieties include pompon, decorative, waterlily, single, cactus and semi-cactus.

Pink dahlia RHS Wisley Flower Show Lisa Cox

Dahlias are perfect for adding a splash of colour to your borders this autumn, as the rest of your garden flowers start to fade.

And they come in a multitude of different tones from white, cream and yellow to pink, purple, orange and red.

Dahlia bed at Hampton Court Garden Lisa Cox Designs

Dahlia Big Orange Lisa Cox Garden Designs

When planting dahlias, find a sunny spot with fertile, well-drained soil that is sheltered from strong winds.  You may also need to support them with stakes.

Dahlias at Hampton Court Palace Lisa Cox Garden Designs

To lift or not to lift…that is the question.  It depends on where you live and the winter weather.

Dahlias are frost tender tubers.  If you do leave them in the ground over the winter months and mulch them well, you may be lucky.  But if there are particularly severe frosts, there may be some casualties…

Dahlia Lilac Time Lisa Cox Garden Designs

Dahlia Fleur opening up Lisa Cox Garden Designs

Dahlia Fleur Lisa Cox Garden Designs

Popular varieties include ‘Bishop of Llandaff’, ‘Dusky Harmony’ and ‘Fleur’.

Dahlia Dusky Harmony Lisa Cox Garden Designs

If you’re in the West Sussex area, you may like to visit dahlia grower Withypitts Dahlias.  They’re having an open day this Saturday, 14th September.

Or if you’re in Cornwall, you could visit The National Dahlia Collection this month.

 

P.S. I took these photos at the RHS Wisley Flower show and Hampton Court Palace Gardens when I visited recently. If you hover your mouse over an image, you’ll see the name of each dahlia.

 

(Words: Rona Wheeldon, Images: Lisa Cox)

 

(Original content source: Garden Flowers: Dahlias…adding a splash of colour to your borders)

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2 Responses to “Garden Flowers: Dahlias…adding a splash of colour to your borders”

  1. Some exceptional shots! Marvellous to see

  2. Lisa Cox says:

    Thanks so much Jennifer 🙂


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Lisa Cox Welcome

I specialise in helping families to turn their gardens into an extension of their home and into a space that can be used and enjoyed all year round.

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