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
'Lady Darlene'
Capture the essence balmy summer sunsets with a blazing display of Dahlia 'Lady Darlene'. These big and brazen blooms will be unmissable in your summer scheme, turning up the heat with its giant bicolour flowers. Watch as the blooms change as they develop, the first petals to emerge are a striking shade of brick red, then next to reveal themselves are the inner petals in a shade of custard yellow, each splashed with a bright strawberry-red tip. The inviting, sunny disposition of Dahlia 'Lady Darlene' is difficult to ignore. Invite guests over and they’ll find it impossible not to fall in love with these fabulous flowers!
The long, slender stems of Dahlia 'Lady Darlene' lend themselves well to cutting and, thanks to their impressive size, even one single flower in a narrow vase will create a strong statement. With such large, heavily-petalled blooms, you’ll find a display of these dahlias completely hypnotic. Add Dahlia 'Lady Darlene' to a hot-colour border if you love those toasty tones, contrast with a dark-flowered dahlias like 'Arabian Night' or 'Black Jack' to really make them pop. Or, splash some cool into the mix with some mellow-coloured dahlias like 'Blue Boy' or 'Senior’s Hope'.
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 'Lady Darlene'
- Flower colour
- Red, yellow
- 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
Perennial
Packed in paper
Low maintenance
Top-size tubers
-20%
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