Dahlia decisions
FOR POLLINATORS
✣ Select single dahlias, where the pollen and nectar are easy for insects to access. Try the bright yellow ‘Bishop of York’, or the crimson ‘Bishop of Auckland’, both with stunning dark foliage.
✣ FOR BEDDING AND CONTAINERS Go for compact or dwarf varieties that don’t need supporting, such as the hot pink ‘Dreamy Nights’ (45cm high), or ‘Crème de Cassis’ (60cm), an adorable mix of lilac and blackcurrant.
✣ FOR HIGH IMPACT While all dahlias are headturners, the dinner-plate types are particularly showy, with flowers up to 30cm across. Growing to 1-1.5m, they include drama queens like
‘Café au Lait’ and ‘Black Jack’.