No Stakes Or Ties

After years of growing dahlias to exhibition standard with all the associated time and effort that goes in to it, I am aware of just what a beautiful flower the dahlia can be. For me to see matching vases lined up on a show bench, pristine and each bloom at its peak is the pinnacle of my dahlia-growing season. I always have spare plants at planting time, so when I’ve earmarked the best for my show plants, the remainder find their way to friends and relatives. However usually, instead of having a lovely display in their gardens, so many times I see the tall plants have been damaged by the winds because their new owners haven’t staked them up or tied them in. 
I also work on some of the bureau for the National Dahlia Society at horticultural shows and this has also made me aware of the fact that the majority of gardeners who like dahlias, are actually put off from growing them because of what they perceive to be complex care routines Considering the above thoughts I realized that many gardeners would grow dahlias “without the hassle” so I looked around at the other types of dahlias that would fit the bill, and I’m happy to say there are lots of them all easily available. The ideal dahlias for the garden are really those, which grow lower, say 20” tall, with no fancy care routines and no staking or tying needed at all. Just plant them, water them and reap the benefit of the beautiful selection of flower colours, and foliage from green through bronze to black. I have listed a selection of suitable dahlias below, all of which are readily available as plastic bag tubers in the garden centres for approximately a quid each.

THIAS. This dahlia is 20” tall with red peony shaped flowers on bronze foliage.

ROSAMUNDE. With matching growth habit and foliage to the above variety, this one has lilac peony shaped blooms.

RIVAL. This dahlia is 20” tall with masses of crimson red single blooms with gold centres.

SNEEZY. Identical in form to the above variety, this one has pure white single blooms with the gold centres.

SINGER. A “gallery” dahlia, 20” tall with bright red double blooms.

SESANNE. Another gallery dahlia, also 20” tall with bright yellow double blooms

ART NOVEAU. A more unusual gallery dahlia, again 20” tall this beauty has strappy double orchid type blooms in a pinkish lavender, with a darker variation of the same colour on the reverse of the petals. An odd sounding mixture but this one won an award of garden merit in the RHS trials at Wisley in 1999.

ALSTERGRUSS. Lower growing at 14” and ideal for smaller pots, this dahlia has bright orange Collerette type blooms.

BISHOP OF LLANDAFF. We have to mention “The Bishop” as it is affectionately known, taller than the rest of our list, at 40” tall this bronze leaved beauty with single red flowers is probably more in vogue now than ever with every good gardening magazine carrying photographs of it in all its glory at the back of the mixed summer borders.

 I have obtained stock of all the above varieties and some other low growers and I will be growing some in flower borders and a few of each in 3 litre pots in the hope of showing some of the pots in a display at the Tatton horticultural show in July on behalf of the National Dahlia Society. I hope this article has given you food for thought, and perhaps you or a friend may give these garden dahlias a try. Have a good growing season,

                Ian Greenhalgh.