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.
'Foxy'
Warm, glowing and just a little mischievous, Dahlia 'Foxy' has a wonderfully distinctive way with colour. Its generously layered decorative flowers open in shades of coppery apricot and rusty orange, while the centre reveals a much richer combination of copper-red and deep raspberry. The contrast is beautifully unexpected, particularly where the darker colouring seems to brush across the inner petals before fading into the softer outer layers. Each bloom develops slightly differently, creating a lively mixture of warm tones that changes as the flowers mature. The broad, overlapping petals form full, rounded flowerheads with a gently informal character, looking particularly lovely in the golden light of late summer. Growing to approximately 110cm, Dahlia 'Foxy' brings both height and warmth to the border, with flowers appearing from midsummer into autumn.
Those rich sunset shades make Dahlia 'Foxy' a lovely companion for bronze fennel, dusky purple salvias and ornamental grasses. Pair it with cream or pale apricot dahlias for a softer arrangement, or introduce deeper burgundy flowers to bring out its darker centre. Dahlia 'Foxy' also makes a beautiful cut flower, its warm colouring lending itself naturally to late-summer bouquets. Give it a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, well-drained soil, and support the taller stems as they develop. Water during dry periods and remove faded blooms to encourage further flowering. Start tubers under cover in spring or plant outside after the last frost, lifting them for frost-free winter storage in colder UK gardens. With Dahlia 'Foxy', there's always another little detail to admire.
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 'Foxy'
- Flower colour
- Orange, copper, peach
- Tuber size
- 1
- Established height
- 1-1.2m
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Half hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green, bronze
- 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
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.