Gardens: Designing with dahlias Farmer and florist Erin Benzakein showcases the sculptural treasure in all its glory

THE BEAUTY QUEENS OF THE FLOWER WORLD, SPECTACULARLY DIVERSE DAHLIAS ARE REWARDING TO GROW AND CREATE A STELLAR DISPLAY, AS AN EXPERT FARMER-FLORIST EXPLORES IN HER INSPIRING NEW BOOK

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN Lovingly referred to as the Queen of dahlias, the Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ is nothing short of a showstopper. Here, Erin has created a natural marvel of a display starring the irresistible bloom, the star-shaped Dahlia ‘Honka Fragile’, with three different types of hydrangeas (Bobo, ‘Limelight’, and Quick Fire) and Wild Sorrel all in supporting roles. >

“DAHLIAS ARE RELATIVELY EASY TO GROW AND NEED ONLY A FEW ESSENTIALS: GOOD SOIL, ADEQUATE WATER, AND LOTS OF SUN” ~ ERIN

Of all the flowers I’ve grown, dahlias are my favourite. These treasures are one of the most well-loved and widely grown flowers for cutting because they come in a dazzling rainbow of colours, they produce an abundance of flowers from midsummer into autumn, and the range of shapes and sizes available is staggering. Their ability to multiply over the course of a growing season is unmatched: you can start with a single tuber or rooted cutting, and by the season’s end be digging a full clump that contains three to 10 babies from the original plant. Similar to a sourdough starter, once you have it and as long as you take care of it, you’ll have a steady supply to share with others and plant for yourself, every season.

One thing I’ve learnt when it comes to dahlias is once you’ve been bitten by the bug, there’s no going back. They have a strange magical quality that somehow ends up taking over your life in the most fun and beautiful way. But the best part of all is having the chance at the end of each season to pass their magic on to others.

THE ART OF ARRANGEMENT

When arranging dahlias, there are a few things to keep in mind. Dahlias make an excellent cut flower, but they are not quite as long-lasting as other summer blooms. They typically persist for up to five days if picked at the right stage and if they’re allowed to rest in water for a few hours after harvest. When you combine them with other flowers and foliage, they will be one of the first to fade. Large-flowered dinner plate varieties, like ‘Café au Lait’, require a little extra care, as the petals bruise easily and the heavy blooms can break off if handled too roughly. Dahlias are such showy blooms and look marvellous on their own, either arranged en masse or displayed individually, so one can appreciate their unique features up close. They play well with others and can be incorporated into any mixed bouquet. NATURE’S BOUNTY “While dahlias are a wonderful addition to the garden, the best part of growing them is being able to harvest an abundance of their stunning blooms and bringing them indoors to enjoy in arrangements,” says Erin, who creates exquisite bouquets freshly picked from her farm in Washington State, where she grows almost 800 unique varieties. Examples of her head-turning displays are seen top and at right, where a posy of dainty open-centred white dahlias (‘Star Child’ ‘Verrone’s Morning Star’, ‘Little Snowdrop’ and ‘Ferncliff Alpine’) basks in a patch of natural light.

FIELDS OF GOLD On a quest to collect the most beautiful yellow-toned dahlias, Erin has grown more than 200 varieties, which she’s whittled down to 40 that she considers the most versatile shades for arranging. This display features dahlia varieties (top shelf, from left) ‘Blah Blah Blah’, ‘Bracken Sarah’, ‘Lakeview Peach Fuzz’, ‘Karmel Korn’, ‘Blyton Softer Gleam’; (middle shelf, from left) ‘Citron du Cap’, ‘Skipley Moonglow’, ‘Buttercup’, ‘Hamari Gold’, ‘Bloomquist Butter Cream’, ‘Golden Scepter’; (bottom shelf, from left) ‘Sandia Sunbonnet’, Born Sty’, ‘Clearview Citron’, ‘Lucky Ducky’, Westerton Lillian’ and unnamed seedling. >

POTTING OUT While these ‘Café Au Lait’ beauties are flourishing on Erin’s farm, you can grow dahlias in large pots that are at least 30cm deep and 61cm wide. “To give them enough room to spread out and thrive, I recommend growing in half wine barrels or large galvanised tubs,” advises Erin. “If you’re growing dahlias in pots, be sure to choose knee-high varieties that top out at 91cm tall, such as ‘Amber Queen’, ‘Totally Tangerine’, and ‘Waltzing Mathilda’.”