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
'Pink Silk'
If you’re looking for sophistication and elegance in your borders and containers, then look no further than Dahlia 'Pink Silk'. This extremely graceful dahlia just oozes class, and the delicate colour will add serenity to your garden. Growing to around 80cm tall, it’s relatively compact for a dahlia and this makes it a great choice if you’re container gardening. It also radiates brilliance in borders and helps to add a gradient to your display with smaller plants in front and taller dahlias behind. Dahlia 'Pink Silk' is prolific, so expect plenty of blooms to highlight your planting scheme. In the summer sun, this subtle dahlia gleams and can appear almost white, as the afternoon rolls on and light becomes slightly dimmer, the gentle pink tone becomes more apparent.
Dahlia 'Pink Silk' has perfectly poised petals which form a ball like shape. It’s worth admiring the fascinating detail of this dahlia up close, so make sure you cut some during the season to enjoy in a vase indoors. In true dahlia style, more flowers will grow after some are cut or deadheaded, so you’ll soon have more to enjoy in the garden. Dahlia 'Pink Silk' makes a sensationally stylish combination with dahlias in pastel shades of mauve and pale peach. For contrast in shape and form and to add a relaxing gentle movement to your display, try planting among Verbena bonariensis or Perovskia.
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 'Pink Silk'
- Flower colour
- 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
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