The one flower you should buy now before it sells out
Top gardeners say to grab these in March before all your favourite varieties are snapped up.
Top gardeners say to grab these in March before all your favourite varieties are snapped up.
This month, the sun has dared to show its face for more than five minutes, and we can finally get stuck into our gardens.
If you are raring to fill gaps in your flower beds and pots with new blooms from the garden centre, there are important plant-buying mistakes to avoid, but there are also must-have flowers to snap up. Not least one particular flower that’s likely to sell out faster than barbecue charcoal on a sunny bank holiday.
Gardeners dreaming of a riot of colour this summer are being warned to snap up dahlia tubers now, before they vanish from the shelves.
Noah Mabey, senior gardener at Thornbridge Hall and horticultural advisor for Platinum Spas, says March is the ideal time to secure the most sought-after dahlias. “Many gardeners wait too long to buy their tubers, only to find that the most-sought-after varieties are already gone,” he says. “The most-beloved sell out quickly, so it pays to be organised."
You don’t need to plant them outside yet, but getting them ready now means you’ll have strong, healthy plants prepared for late spring. “And you’ll be ready to plant as soon as conditions are right,” adds Noah. “It’s one of those small jobs that makes a big difference later in the year.”
Noah points to the “Café au Lait” as one of the varieties gardeners love most – and, as a result, one that’s likely to be in particularly high demand. “The iconic blush-toned ‘Café au Lait’ dahlias are among my personal favourites,” he says.
“They’re incredibly elegant and work beautifully in borders or cut-flower displays.”
“The ‘Café au Lait’ remains one of the most coveted dahlias for cutting gardens,” agrees expert gardener and author Sarah Raven.
“The large blooms, in creamy, coffee-tinged tones, are really versatile. They fit into almost any colour palette and elevate both borders and floral arrangements with a sense of quiet luxury.”
“One of my absolute favourite dahlias is the ‘Rip City’,” says Sarah. “It’s the very first dahlia I ever grew, nearly 30 years ago, and one I still wouldn’t be without.
"It’s reliable, strong, quick to establish and easy to grow. The deep, rich colouring brings depth to borders, and it has an excellent vase life that makes it a superb cut flower.”
“The ‘Labyrinth’ is another must-have for me,” Sarah continues. “Its blooms are peach, pink, purple and cream, and no two flowers are ever quite the same.
"The twisted petals are so intriguing, and add a touch of softness and movement wherever it’s planted.”
Emma Fell, head of horticulture at Hillier Garden Centres, recommends “Go Go” dahlias. “This series is a great choice if you’re looking for compact plants that deliver maximum impact,” she says. “Growing to around 30-40cm tall, ‘Go Go’ dahlias are perfectly suited to borders, smaller gardens and patio pots, yet still produce generous 13cm blooms that really stand out. They flower tirelessly from July through to October, giving you reliable colour right through the season.”
“Go Gos” come in a range of colours, including yellow, white, orange and black. “But for something a little different, ‘Go Go Speckled’ has pink petals with a distinctive flecked finish that adds charm and character,” says Emma. “It’s a real showstopper and a wonderful focal point in pots or borders.”
“The ‘Bishop of Llandaff’, a classic red dahlia with dark foliage, adds a striking contrast to borders,” says Emma.
Dave the Plant Man – a horticulturist of 45 years and lately a social media star – agrees: “The ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ is probably the best dahlia you can buy, in my opinion.
"It’s one of the easiest, if not THE easiest, to grow, is very reliable and has lovely foliage and flowers.”
Other dahlia varieties sought-after by gardeners include the pink “Rockrun Ashley”, and the burgundy “Ivanetti”. Noah says the “Penhill Watermelon” and the “Blizzard” are also firm favourites.
“They love a sunny, sheltered spot and well-drained soil,” says Emma.
“You can plant tubers from January to May, though I’d advise late spring, after the worst of the frosts.
“Enrich the soil with peat-free compost before planting, and then put them about 10cm deep and 60cm apart, ensuring they have space to develop.”
To keep dahlias flowering for longer, “water during dry spells and feed lightly every couple of weeks once growth is underway, to encourage plenty of blooms from July to October,” says Emma. “Just make sure not to overfeed, as this can lead to soft growth that’s prone to problems such as powdery mildew.
“Because dahlias aren’t fully frost-hardy, it’s a good idea to lift the tubers after the first frosts, and store them somewhere cool and frost-free until the following spring,” she adds. “They’re also fantastic as cut flowers, so you can bring that colour indoors all summer long.”
(Hero image credit: Sarah Raven/Jonathan Buckley)
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