DAHLIA FASCINATION
I confess my floral cravings have got so bad I’m forever buying plants. Here’s my new haul...
I’m addicted to buying plants this year. I need to see a doctor to cure my floral cravings. It’s not the worst addiction to have and as I’ve now admitted it publicly, I’d love to share with you my latest spending haul.
When you want to have lots of colour, mid to late summer in a garden can be challenging. For my shopping list, read on!
Remember, in the heat our plants do need to be taken care of – dunk the pots in a bucket of water before they go in the ground. In the evening, an hour or two before sundown in the first week or two, give them another drink. Water well with the rose or spout of the watering can near the root of the plant.
DAHLIA ‘BISHOP OF LLANDAFF’
The Bishop series of dahlias all have in common their beautiful dark aubergine-coloured foliage.
Llandaff, named after a Welsh bishop, has bright scarlet flowers which contrast well with the foliage.
Look out too for the Bishop of Dover (white flowers with a hint of mauve), Oxford (orange) and York (bright yellow flowers). All require a sunny site with fertile soil.
Growing to a height of one metre, they flower from June until September.
As tender perennials, once frost blackens their foliage, the tubers need to be overwintered inside. I love the shocking pink of these flowers and the dramatic dark foliage