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
'Hapet Old Charm'
An antique rose in dahlia form? Almost. Dahlia 'Hapet Old Charm' unfolds in beautifully cupped layers of dusty blush pink, with peachy warmth, creamy edges and a soft yellow glow between the petals. Some flowers lean towards rose, others towards pale apricot, giving the plant a wonderfully varied, freshly gathered appearance. The broad, gently rounded petals create the graceful shape of a waterlily dahlia, rather than the tightly packed form of a ball variety. At around 10–15cm across, the blooms are substantial enough to draw the eye but never feel heavy. Dahlia 'Hapet Old Charm' reaches roughly 100–120cm, carrying its softly coloured flowers above fresh green foliage from midsummer until autumn's first frosts.
Bring Dahlia 'Hapet Old Charm' into a cutting garden and its appeal quickly becomes obvious. Those long stems and shifting pastel shades are lovely in loose bouquets alongside cream dahlias, pale pink cosmos and wisps of ornamental grass. In borders, plant it where a little afternoon light can catch the peach and gold in its petals. Give Dahlia 'Hapet Old Charm' a sunny, sheltered position in fertile, well-drained soil, supporting the stems as they grow and watering during dry spells. Regular picking or deadheading encourages fresh blooms for weeks on end. Start the tubers under cover in spring, or plant outside after the last frost, lifting them for frost-free winter storage in colder UK gardens. Dahlia 'Hapet Old Charm' looks like an heirloom, but its story is much more recent.
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 'Hapet Old Charm'
- Flower colour
- Pink, 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
- 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
Farmer Gracy exclusive
Perennial
Packed in paper
Low maintenance
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