Dahlias are half hardy, so keep them protected from frost. Pot tubers individually between February and April and grow them on in a greenhouse or bright indoor position. Alternatively, start them outside in May, once the risk of frost has passed.
'Bright Eyes'
Dahlia 'Bright Eyes' brings a refreshing clarity to the summer garden, with an open, single-flowered form that feels both joyful and effortlessly elegant. Each bloom is composed of pinky-purple petals, gently flushed and warming towards their base, where a buttery yellow glow draws the eye inward. At the centre sits a golden eye, alive with pollen and irresistible to pollinators, creating a flower that feels animated and full of purpose. Set against dark, wiry stems and clean green foliage, Dahlia 'Bright Eyes' has a lightness that lifts borders and softens more densely planted schemes. The contrast between petal, eye, and stem gives it a graphic quality, making it especially effective when woven through grasses or paired with airy perennials. Despite its delicacy of appearance, Dahlia 'Bright Eyes' holds itself confidently, offering a calm brightness rather than overt drama.
Reaching around a metre in height, Dahlia 'Bright Eyes' flowers freely through summer and into early autumn, providing continuity just when the garden needs it most. Its simple blooms lend themselves beautifully to naturalistic planting, where movement and light are as important as colour. Bees and butterflies flock eagerly, ensuring the plant hums quietly with life on warm days. As a cut flower, Dahlia 'Bright Eyes' brings an informal charm to arrangements, pairing well with seed heads and soft foliage. Dependable, expressive, and endlessly companionable, Dahlia 'Bright Eyes' proves that simplicity, when done well, is often the most enduring form of beauty.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
For planting out later, use a snug-fitting 15–20cm pot filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. For a patio display, plant directly into a container at least 30cm wide and keep it somewhere bright and frost free until it can move outdoors.
Position the old stem facing upwards, with the tubers covered and the stem stump level with the compost. Tubers naturally vary in size and shape and may arrive without visible buds. Bent necks are usually fine if they remain firmly attached, so do not remove them.
Water after planting, then allow the compost to become almost dry before watering again while the tuber remains dormant. Once shoots and leaves are growing strongly, water more regularly, always allowing excess water to drain away.
Plant out after the last frost, once the plant is around 20–30cm tall and its roots hold the compost together. Space dahlias approximately 30–50cm apart in borders, allowing less room for compact varieties. Water thoroughly after planting.
Water regularly during active growth and deadhead or cut flowers often. Dahlias usually bloom from July or August until the first frost, although later-planted tubers may start in late August or September. In autumn, lift, clean and dry the tubers, then store them somewhere cool, dry, airy and frost free.
- Botanical name
- Dahlia 'Bright Eyes NL' (Sin)
- Flower colour
- Pink, purple, yellow
- Tuber size
- 1
- Established height
- 70cm-1m
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Half hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 5 tubers per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- No
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Large containers
Borders
Gravel gardens
Coastal gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Cut flower Gardens
Wildlife gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1st year
Expert care from
choice to delivery
Our horticulturalists prepare every bulb and plant with the utmost care. From selection to packing, each one receives expert attention before beginning its journey to your garden.