Rediscovering Dahlias

Once considered vulgar and reviled by those with 'good taste', Dahlias are truly the comeback kids of the gardening world as Conrad McCormick reveals.

- Conrad McCormick

They always say, hold onto something long enough and it'll come back into fashion and never a truer word was spoken when applied to Dahlias. They've spent decades awaiting their chance to step back into the spotlight! They come in almost every shade except blue, with colours ranging from whites through creams, yellows, orange, red and to purples so dark they are almost black. And while they may look like the divas of the garden, they're easy to care for and incredibly rewarding.

They come in all shapes and sizes, from enormous architectural spiky cactus forms with exploding firework-like narrow petals, through multi-petaled flowers that look like waterlilies; little pom-pom shapes consisting of tight balls of scrolled petals, through anemone centred creations and finally simple, single flowers that allow pollinating insects easy access to nectar.

DAZZLING DAHLIAS

While I love vibrant and dramatic colours, I've always been drawn to vintage, sepia shades too, providing contrast to the shocking deep pinks and purples I use in the garden.

A current favourite with many in recent years, 'Café Au Lait' is now a wedding flower classic, beloved by brides. The large milky coffee double flowers open pale pink then fade to a warm ivory-blush as they age.

Magnificent 'Labyrinth' has enormous blooms, packed with wavy petals in soft shades of peach, apricot, pink and gentle orange. This cultivar will work well with pink or orange colour schemes as its flowers bridge all those shades.

Described as anemone-flowered, 'Totally Tangerine' has citrusy-orange and pink flowers and is always one of the first to bloom in my garden, and is a massive hit with pollinating insects as they can easily reach the nectar contained within its zesty blooms. Being a bit shorter in stature it shouldn't need staking.