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
'Hotline'
A faint pink line on a creamy petal can be surprisingly captivating. Dahlia 'Hotline' takes that idea and repeats it across layer after layer of delicately shaped petals, creating a beautifully full decorative flower with an almost porcelain finish. The blooms open in soft ivory-white, with a whisper of yellow towards the centre, while their tips are brushed in dusky lilac-pink. Look closely and you'll find warmer, finely traced veins running through some petals, giving each flower its own subtle pattern. At around 11cm across, the flowers are neatly proportioned, but no less interesting for it. Dahlia 'Hotline' grows to approximately 110–120cm, holding those pale blooms above fresh green foliage on stems touched with reddish-brown. Its delicate colouring is particularly lovely in the softer light of late summer.
Pastel shades this gentle are especially appealing in a cutting garden. Combine Dahlia 'Hotline' with lavender-blue salvias, pale pink cosmos and airy ornamental grasses for a border that feels light and relaxed. Its elegant flowers are equally lovely in a vase, where their intricate colouring can be appreciated up close. Give Dahlia 'Hotline' a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, well-drained soil, and provide discreet support for its taller stems. Water during dry spells and remove faded flowers to encourage fresh blooms from midsummer until the first autumn frosts. Start tubers under cover in spring, or plant outside once frost has passed, lifting them for frost-free winter storage in colder UK gardens. Dahlia 'Hotline' rewards a closer look, with a little more colour in every petal than first meets the eye.
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 'Hotline'
- Flower colour
- Cream, 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
- 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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