Photos of Dahlias 2024

Day 3 of the same flower in a vase

 

That is beautiful. How near to perfection can you get!

 

I'm usually a bit 'sniffy' about big blousy flowers but in early July when Mrs. LS came back from B&Q with this Dahlia - 'Sincerity Rose Bicolor' - I was smitten. I posted this first shot on the 'Close-up of Flowers' thread at the time. The second shot was taken today.

 

Kilburn Glow - a water lily type. For some reason, I find photographing red flowers with my phone tricky but this one was growing in some dappled sunshine through an apple tree giving it a luminescence true to its name.

 

Brilliant photo @Ezzie it really is glowing, a beautiful dahlia.

 

I must have one!

I have only ever grown one Dahlia. I bought it on a visit to Wisley, shortly after moving into my first home with outside space (a small, south-facing patio). It flowered well, but got eaten and I didn't know anything about overwintering etc.

That was 1994. Maybe it's time for another go!

 

Following on from the post from @Athelas about the perfection of their dahlia Jowey Winnie, I took some photos of my Pom Pom dahlias. It’s amazing to me that nature can come up with flowers that are so perfect.

Dahlia Wizardof Oz


Another Wizard of Oz in a little flower arrangement I did.


Dahlia Cornel Brons

A few Dahlia Jill, all slightly different.

Yes @ViewAhead you must have another go

 

This is probably a silly qu ... but where do you buy specific ones? Is this the time of yr or would you get them in spring?

 

There are nurseries that take orders for rooted cuttings in the autumn; these are then delivered in spring or you order tubers of named varieties, these can be found in DIY stores, garden centres etc.
Two names that spring to mind are Halls of Heddon and Woolmans.
Also look at dahlia rooted cuttings for sale uk - Recherche Google

 

I generally buy them as tubers in the autumn @ViewAhead

Lots of places sell them online, I bought quite a few this year from Peter Nyssen and they’ve done very well. Also from Sarah Raven but I had quite a few that were mislabelled which is disappointing when you want a specific dahlia. Garden centres sell them too but I normally want certain ones so go online to get them.

 

@ViewAhead, it's also possible to buy them in bud or flower now at garden centres etc., but they are more expensive and less choice. I recently bough Dreamy Nights at NT Styal Mill, and I am very pleased with it.

 

With tubers from DIY stores and garden centres I've found they can be very dry and slow to get going. I've taken to soaking them in water for 24 to 48hrs before potting them up. Alright I know I shouldn't wait until there in the reduced section at the end of spring.

 

There's also the option of growing from seed, don't forget! If you start them off indoors in February or March, you should get flowers the first year. There's not a huge variety to purchase this way, usually the seeds are mixed selections of simpler-looking varieties, like the single-flowered 'Bishop's Children' I have here. These are now in their third year, I leave them in the ground over the winter and by now they have formed sizeable clumps - despite the best efforts of the snails this year. They may not be as spectacular-looking as other dahlias in this thread, but the dark foliage and bright flowers are both attractive in the border, and good for cutting. Bees and other pollinators seem to love visiting them too, which I think may not be the case with the more complex forms?

 

Dahlia "Moonfire" this is still in the greenhouse after a very slow start to the year, followed by being badly mollusced. Flower is smaller than normal.

 

The main problem with seed grown dahlias is the range of colours available, which won't always suit people's preferences. I love strong oranges and reds, so it's fine.
I've just ordered some new seed - Black Forest Ruby, but I've had others which have been nice, probably the Bishop's ones. I could never leave any in the ground here, even in the best sites against the walls etc.
Rudebeckias offer the same sort of colours though, and aren't as slug prone, so they're better for my conditions.