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
'Damson Dusk'
Some colours refuse to settle on a single name. Dahlia 'Damson Dusk' blends raspberry pink, warm coral and deep wine-red in flowers that seem to change character as they open. Broad outer petals carry fine strokes of darker pink, while the centre gathers into a collection of narrow, curled petals in rich burgundy. Even the glimpse of fresh green at the heart adds to the appeal. The overall effect is richly layered but never stiff, with a natural, slightly untamed shape that makes every bloom worth a closer look. In the softer light of late summer, Dahlia 'Damson Dusk' has a particularly lovely depth of colour, bringing warmth and interest to the border.
Try Dahlia 'Damson Dusk' alongside dusky pink cosmos, plum-coloured salvias and the airy forms of ornamental grasses. Its warm berry tones also sit beautifully beside apricot and pale cream flowers, where the contrasts feel gentle rather than overly arranged. Give Dahlia 'Damson Dusk' a sunny, sheltered position in fertile, well-drained soil and water during dry weather. Regular deadheading helps encourage fresh flowers from summer into autumn, while support may be useful if the stems become heavy with blooms. Start the tubers under cover in spring or plant outdoors after the risk of frost has passed, lifting them for frost-free winter storage in colder gardens. With so much colour and texture packed into each flower, Dahlia 'Damson Dusk' offers plenty to admire as the season deepens.
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 'Damson Dusk'
- Flower colour
- Coral, pink, red
- 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
Farmer Gracy exclusive
Perennial
Packed in paper
Low maintenance
Top-size tubers
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