Proud Mary dahlia collection
dahlia collection
This dramatic dahlia collection features a rich palette of apricot, garnet, dusky orange and velvety red blooms, from fully double pom-poms to elegant cactus and bi-coloured forms.
Each cultivated variety brings dark foliage, sculptural texture and striking colour contrast, perfect for bold borders, exotic schemes, or standout cut flower displays from midsummer through early autumn.
Each cultivated variety brings dark foliage, sculptural texture and striking colour contrast, perfect for bold borders, exotic schemes, or standout cut flower displays from midsummer through early autumn.
How to care for Proud Mary dahlia collection:
Dahlia tubers can be planted outside after frost, or started off in pots under glass in late winter to early spring. Plant them horizontally approximately 12cm (5in) deep, making sure the ‘eyes’ are uppermost. Allow enough room between each tuber so the plants can grow and spread to their full size without being overcrowded.
While in growth, provide a high-nitrogen liquid feed each week in June, then a high-potash fertiliser each week from July to September. Stake with canes or brushwood if it becomes necessary. In mild areas, leave them in situ over winter, but protect the crown with a generous layer of dry mulch.
In colder areas, carefully lift and clean the tubers once the first frosts have blackened the foliage and allow them to dry naturally indoors. Then place the dry tubers in a shallow tray, just covered with slightly moist potting compost, sand or vermiculite and store in a frost-free place until planting out again.
While in growth, provide a high-nitrogen liquid feed each week in June, then a high-potash fertiliser each week from July to September. Stake with canes or brushwood if it becomes necessary. In mild areas, leave them in situ over winter, but protect the crown with a generous layer of dry mulch.
In colder areas, carefully lift and clean the tubers once the first frosts have blackened the foliage and allow them to dry naturally indoors. Then place the dry tubers in a shallow tray, just covered with slightly moist potting compost, sand or vermiculite and store in a frost-free place until planting out again.
What's included:
In each collection you will receive the following tubers:
1 × Dahlia 'American Dawn': A superb decorative dahlia with a blend of sumptuous shades. Initially, as the flowerhead opens, the predominant colour is rich pinkish purple, but as the ray-florets (petals) mature they turn a warm apricot. Grows to 90cm.
1 × Dahlia 'Chat Noir': A sumptuous cactus dahlia with garnet red flowers (up to 15cm across), which have a near-black centre. The fully double flowers have long and narrow, pointed petals that recurve for more than half their length. This dahlia looks great planted in bold groups in a sunny, sheltered border or as part of an exotic scheme. The flowers appear from July until the first frosts, and make excellent cut flowers. Grows to 1.2m.
1 × Dahlia 'Cornel Brons': 'Cornel Brons' has beautifully formed, perfectly round, pom-pom blooms of dusky orange. Superb as a cut flower, this dahlia would work wonderfully well with the loose flowering habit of Dahlia ‘David Howard’ and the deep red foliage of of Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo'. Grows to 90cm.
1 × Dahlia 'Night Butterfly': Great for cut flowers, ‘Night Butterfly’ has deep red, velvety petals and a red-flushed white collarette round a golden yellow centre. In flower from July to September, this bi-coloured beauty would work well with the similarly coloured Knautia macedonica or the pinkish tones of Phlox paniculata 'Franz Schubert'. Grows to 90cm.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or peat-free general purpose compost
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
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This bulb dies back after flowering each year and enters a period of rest ahead of regrowth the following season.
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Humans/Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten
