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
'Valente'
Dahlia 'Valente' is the sort of flower that quietly steals the show, offering a refined palette of blush, shell pink and soft ivory that feels both romantic and refreshingly modern. Each bloom forms a near-perfect, fully double rosette, its layers of satin-smooth petals paling gently towards the outer edge. In the garden, Dahlia 'Valente' brings a calm, composed presence, glowing softly in natural light and pairing effortlessly with silvers, mauves and deeper rose tones. Despite its delicate colouring, Dahlia 'Valente' is a robust and dependable performer, producing an abundance of long-stemmed flowers from midsummer well into autumn. Whether woven through a border or grown specifically for cutting, Dahlia 'Valente' has a graceful, unforced elegance that rewards close attention.
Growing Dahlia 'Valente' is a pleasure for gardeners who value both beauty and practicality. The plants form tidy, upright clumps with strong stems that hold each flower proudly aloft, making 'Valente' particularly valuable for cutting gardens and floral arrangements. In a vase, the blooms lend a gentle, luminous quality that suits relaxed, natural designs just as well as more structured displays. Like all dahlias, 'Valente' thrives in fertile, well-drained soil and a sunny position, responding generously to regular cutting and deadheading. As the season progresses, Dahlia 'Valente' only improves, building rhythm and abundance until the first frosts arrive, leaving you wondering how such a soft-looking flower can be quite so resilient.
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 'Valente'
- Flower colour
- Blush pink, cream
- 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
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