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
Dahlia
'HS Kiss'
With its dramatic, dark bronze foliage as a backdrop, the flowers of Dahlia 'HS Kiss' gleam with luminosity; their light peachy apricot colouring contrasted with a raspberry pink halo and a dark yellow centre. The effect is simply irresistible, both to us and to pollinators, making it one of our favourite dahlias (shhhh!). A neat, compact size suits this to containers or the front of a border, where Dahlia 'HS Kiss' will flower its socks off from midsummer until the first frosts.
If you are growing your 'HS Kiss' dahlias in a container, there are three keys to success: consistent watering (allowing the top few centimetres of compost to dry out between soakings), lots of deadheading, and a regular feeding routine. Add a granular, general feed into the compost when initially potting Dahlia 'Happy Single Kiss' into the container, then a potassium-rich liquid feed (to boost flowering) once a week from July to September.
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 'Happy Single Kiss' ('HS Kiss'ᴾᴮᴿ) (Happy Single Series)
- Flower colour
- Peach, apricot, raspberry pink
- Tuber size
- 1
- Established height
- 70cm-1m
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Half hardy
- Leaf colour
- Bronze
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 5 tubers per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- 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
Wildlife gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1st year
Good for cutting
Pollinator-friendly
Thrives in full sun
Perennial
Packed in paper
Low maintenance
Attracts wildlife
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