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.
'Cheeky Girl'
With its charmingly rounded flowers and delicate violet colouring, Dahlia 'Cheeky Girl' has a personality every bit as appealing as its name. The blooms are made up of numerous small, closely arranged petals, forming beautifully textured spheres in soft purple and lilac-pink shades. Their intricate construction gives them an almost geometric quality, while the gentle colouring keeps the overall appearance relaxed and romantic. Dahlia 'Cheeky Girl' is particularly lovely among airy perennials and ornamental grasses, where the rounded flowers appear to float above the surrounding foliage. Its cool, subtle shades also make it a wonderful companion for pink cosmos, white flowers and deeper purple salvias, bringing a little structure to otherwise informal planting combinations.
There is something especially satisfying about the neat, rounded blooms of Dahlia 'Cheeky Girl'. Their distinctive shape provides a pleasing contrast to larger, more loosely petalled dahlias, making this variety useful for adding interest to a mixed summer border. The flowers are equally charming in bouquets, where their compact form brings texture and a playful finishing touch. Plant Dahlia 'Cheeky Girl' in fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position, and keep the soil adequately moist during dry spells. Picking flowers or removing spent blooms regularly encourages new buds to develop, extending the display into autumn. For gardeners drawn to soft violet tones and beautifully detailed flowers, Dahlia 'Cheeky Girl' offers an irresistible combination of delicate colour, neat proportions and a wonderfully cheerful character.
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 'Cheeky Girl'
- Flower colour
- Purple, violet, lilac, blue
- Tuber size
- 1
- Established height
- 50-70m
- 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
- No
- 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 - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1st year
Expert care from
choice to delivery
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