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
'Honka Fragile'
Dahlia 'Honka Fragile' is a study in subtle drama, offering a refined take on the classic single dahlia. Its fresh green foliage provides the perfect foil for star-shaped blooms made up of narrow, gently incurved petals. At a glance, the flowers of Dahlia 'Honka Fragile' appear creamy white with a clear yellow eye, but linger a moment longer and the detail emerges. Each petal is delicately outlined in dark pink, with painterly flashes of dark pink and warm yellow glowing at the base, lending the flowers a quietly expressive quality. There is something almost botanical-illustration-like about Dahlia 'Honka Fragile', making it especially appealing to gardeners who favour nuance and fine detail over bold colour blocks.
Reaching around 60cm in height, Dahlia 'Honka Fragile' is ideally suited to the front of borders, gravel gardens, and containers where its intricate flowers can be admired up close. Flowering freely through the summer months, it also offers real value for pollinators, thanks to its open, accessible centres. Dahlia 'Honka Fragile' blends beautifully with ornamental grasses, airy perennials, and soft-toned planting schemes, bringing lightness and movement without overpowering its neighbours. Easy to grow in a sunny position with well-drained soil, Dahlia 'Honka Fragile' is a dependable, characterful choice for thoughtful, relaxed gardens.
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 'Honka Fragile'
- Flower colour
- White, dark pink
- 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
- 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 - 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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