5 plants you must grow

Dahlias that you'll love!

Everyone,

This week, for “5 plants you must grow”, I’m well and truly taking a ride on the bandwagon, as I’m going to talk about dahlias.

I’ve been very lucky to be sneak visits to various trial grounds over the last few years, so I had a little flick back through my gallery and chose my absolute 5 favourite dahlias for you today - there’s something for everyone here, and what’s better is that they’re all available from suppliers right now!

Hollyhill Spiderwoman

I remember when I was an apprentice at just 18 years old, I used to flick through magazines during my lunch break, and one of those was an issue of the RHS mag, and they were showing these gorgeous Japanese spider dahlias - they looked so dreamy.

Fast forward 25 years, and they are now available to the public, which is fantastic news. ‘Hollyhill Spiderwoman’ is indeed one of those types, and has the most curious flowers, 6 inches across, and absolutely bonkers!

Buy it here.

Polka

My next choice of dahlia is somewhat demure, but I’m in love with it, it’s super classy, and actually looks like a little piece of shortbread!

A small flower type, with blooms only 4 inches across, but they are produced in abundance, across glorious branching plants that really fill space in the border. ‘Polka’ is prized not only for that lovely anemone centre, but also the red marbling to the outer petals as they age.

Buy it here.

Franz Kafka

I remember the type of dahlia my grandma used to grow the most was the pom-poms. So that’s why I’ve chosen a lovely pom-pom here today - ‘Franz Kafta’ has super perfect blooms, and in a very unique lilac shade (probably the closest you’ll get to a true blue, if I have to break the news to you…!)

An absolutely sparkling cut flower - nice long stems, great vase life… give me those tubers right now!!

Buy it here.

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And if you’re a subscriber, you’ll get to scroll on and see my absolute favourite Dahlia - and one more that looks like an optical illusion!