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
'Leonardo'
Salmon pink with a little sunshine tucked between the petals, Dahlia 'Leonardo' brings a wonderfully warm glow to the summer garden. Its beautifully rounded decorative flowers are filled with overlapping petals in delicate shades of peach, soft coral and rosy pink, with hints of buttery yellow towards the centre. As the blooms mature, their colouring softens, creating a lovely mixture of tones across the plant. Each flower measures around 8–11cm across, remarkably generous for a dahlia that grows to just 30–40cm tall. Part of the celebrated Gallery series, Dahlia 'Leonardo' has been specially bred for compact growth and abundant flowering. Its neat, bushy habit and fresh green foliage provide the perfect setting for those softly coloured blooms.
With its modest proportions, Dahlia 'Leonardo' is particularly charming in patio pots, window boxes and along the front of sunny borders. Plant several together for a generous cushion of colour, or combine them with lavender-blue salvias, trailing plants and delicate ornamental grasses. Give Dahlia 'Leonardo' a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, well-drained soil, keeping containers watered during dry spells. Regular deadheading encourages fresh flowers throughout summer and well into autumn, while its naturally sturdy, compact growth generally needs no support. Start the tubers under cover in spring or plant outdoors once frost has passed, lifting them for frost-free winter storage in colder UK gardens. Small in stature but wonderfully generous with its flowers, Dahlia 'Leonardo' is a lovely choice for bringing colour to smaller spaces.
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 'Leonardo'
- Flower colour
- Pink, salmon
- Tuber size
- 1
- Established height
- 30-50cm
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Half hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 9 tubers per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- No
- RHS Award (AGM)
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Gravel gardens
Coastal gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance 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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