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.
Out of season
New
Dahlia
'Extase'
There's something wonderfully cheerful about Dahlia 'Extase', with its generous flowers in a delicious blend of salmon pink, soft apricot and warm golden yellow. Each bloom opens with a glowing yellow centre, surrounded by layers of slender, pointed petals that gradually deepen towards the tips. As the flowers mature, their colouring softens, creating a lovely mixture of shades across the plant. The petals curl gently along their edges, giving the blooms a lively, slightly spiky silhouette without losing their beautifully rounded shape. Reaching approximately 15cm across, the flowers are surprisingly generous for such a compact plant. Dahlia 'Extase' typically grows to around 45–60cm, producing an abundance of colour from midsummer until the first autumn frosts. It's a particularly appealing combination of big flowers and manageable proportions.
That compact growth makes Dahlia 'Extase' a natural choice for patio pots, raised beds and the front of sunny borders. Its warm, sunset-inspired colouring looks lovely alongside purple salvias, soft pink cosmos and the fine textures of ornamental grasses. The flowers are also delightful for cutting, bringing their gentle shades of peach and apricot into summer arrangements. Give Dahlia 'Extase' fertile, well-drained soil and water regularly during dry spells, especially when growing in containers. Removing faded flowers will encourage new buds to develop throughout the season. Start the tubers under cover in spring or plant outdoors once frost has passed, lifting them for frost-free winter storage in colder UK gardens. With Dahlia 'Extase', a little space goes a surprisingly long way.
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 'Extase'
- Flower colour
- Pink, peach, salmon
- 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
- 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
Good for cutting
Thrives in full sun
Perennial
Packed in paper
Low maintenance
Top-size tubers
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