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
'Giovanna'
At first glance, Dahlia 'Giovanna' appears almost porcelain-pale pink, but come a little closer and you'll discover a beautiful mingling of blush pink, soft peach and creamy yellow. Its broad, overlapping petals curve gently inwards around a warm, buttery centre, creating neatly rounded decorative blooms of around 10cm across. The colours aren't entirely fixed: one flower may lean towards pink, while another reveals more apricot, and cooler nights can bring out subtle yellow tones. The result is a changing palette that feels wonderfully natural rather than carefully matched. Dahlia 'Giovanna' grows to around 100cm, producing an abundance of flowers on long, sturdy stems, with fresh green foliage providing an attractive backdrop for those delicate shades.
Cut a few stems for a vase and you'll soon appreciate why Dahlia 'Giovanna' is so appealing to flower growers. Its softly shaded blooms work beautifully alongside pale apricot dahlias, lavender-blue salvias and airy ornamental grasses, while the generous flowering habit keeps the border looking lovely well into autumn. Give Dahlia 'Giovanna' a sunny, sheltered position in fertile, well-drained soil, providing support as the stems gain height. Water during dry spells and keep picking or removing spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Start the tubers under cover in spring or plant outside once the last frost has passed, lifting them for frost-free winter storage in colder UK gardens. With Dahlia 'Giovanna', the gentle colours do all the talking.
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 'Giovanna'
- Flower colour
- Pink, cream
- 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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