6 JULY 2019AmAteur GArDeNING 29All photography Alamy
9 knockout dahlias to buy now
‘totally tangerine’
Ideal for use in naturalistic planting
schemes – try teaming the pretty, pinky
apricot flowers with salvias, panicum
grass, coreopsis and tanacetum. Short
enough to make staking unnecessary,
too. H: 32in (80cm).‘Bishop of Llandaff’ AGm
This deservedly popular classic
matches its attractive, clear red blooms
with foliage in a dramatic bronze-red.
An excellent choice for a ‘hot colours’
border scheme. Flowers from July to
September. H: 39in (1m).‘Bantling’
Delightful orange pompon type, with
flowers 3in (7cm) in diameter, from June
to October. Looks gorgeous planted
with Verbena bonariensis and Cotinus
‘Grace’ (smokebush). A real cracker of
a dahlia. H: 3ft (90cm).‘Karma Choc’ AGm
Part of the Karma series – originally bred
for cut flowers – the long-lasting blooms
have a vase life of up to 12 days. In dark
plum red, they make a good contrast
to plants with silvery foliage, such as
Senecio cineraria. H: 3ft (90cm).‘Glorie van Heemstede’ AGm
A really different dahlia that is an
antidote to the usual intense colours on
offer. The soft yellow waterlily blooms
have a lovely simplicity, while their
strong stems make them great for
bouquets. H: 52in (1.3m).‘Hillcrest royal’ AGm
Favoured by the late, great plantsman
Christopher Lloyd, this brilliant pink
cactus dahlia will knock your socks off
with its bold blooms. Grow with the tall
bamboo-like grass Arundo donax for
a tropical vibe. H: 39in (1m).‘Café au Lait’
Very fashionable at the moment, and
popular for use in summer bridal
bouquets. The soft, creamy blooms
can reach 10in (25cm) across – they
look equally spectacular in the
border and the vase. H: 4ft (1.2m).Happy Single Wink AGm
The Happy Single Series comprises short
varieties that are perfect for the front of
a border or growing in pots. This one has
iridescent pink flowers with a splash of
purple at the centre and deep purple-
bronze foliage. H: 2ft (60cm).Star Wars
Part of the Dark Angel Series, this dwarf
variety makes a great bedding plant
when planted en masse; or try in
containers on the patio. The peachy
pink single blooms will attract bees and
look lovely in a vase. H: 1ft (30cm).Crocus.co.uk