9 of the best Dahlias
‘Bishop of Canterbury’
this cultivar has vivid magenta flowers and dark foliage, and as with other single-flower dahlias, it‘s ‘open for business’ for passing pollinators. H: 90cm.
‘Thomas A. Edison’
this plum-to purple dahlia introduced in 1929 has stood the test of time. Glorious with deep reds or next to golden oat grass (Stipa gigantea). H: 120cm.
‘Happy Single Wink’ AGM
the Dutch-bred happy series make good container plants, and this striking pink singleflowered dahlia has a dark raspberry middle that flatters the dark foliage. H: 30cm.
‘Waltzing Matilda’ AGM
this has informally-shaped, often non-symmetrical coral pink and sunset flowers, making it a fabulous choice for the front of a border. H: 60cm.
‘Gallery Art Deco’ (AGM)
A container-friendly mini option boasting warm orangecoloured petals with a gentle twist that showcases their dark pink undersides. H: 40cm.
‘Pearl of Heemstede’ AGM
A prolific, soft pink waterlilystyle double with masses of blooms on long stems. Great with purple asters, Verbena bonariensis or Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’. H: 90cm.
‘Karma Choc’ AGM
one of the karma series, this long-stemmed dahlia has slender stems topped by deep red flowers. Good paired with yellow rudbeckias. H: 120cm.
‘Otto’s Thrill’ AGM
A giant decorative variety, with its lavish rose-pink flowers up to 25cm across formed of slightly wavy petals. Sometimes size is everything. H: 100-120cm.
‘Bishop of Llandaff’ AGM
the classic scarlet dahlia, with its winning combo of almost black foliage topped by yelloweyed, 5-6cm semi-double flowers. Show-stopping with lime green helichrysum ‘limelight’. H: 1.2m.