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
'Taxi Driver'
Yellow flowers have seldom looked quite so dramatic. Against a dense cushion of almost-black, finely divided leaves, Dahlia 'Taxi Driver' raises a lively scattering of bright, daisy-like blooms. Each has a simple ring of lemon-yellow petals, sometimes warmed with a faint orange blush, surrounding a chocolate-brown eye that gradually brightens with golden pollen. At around 4–6cm across, the flowers are petite, but the contrast gives them all the presence they need. The slender, dark stems echo the bronze-purple foliage, making the whole plant attractive even between flushes of flowers. Part of the Dark Angel series, Dahlia 'Taxi Driver' stays neatly compact at around 30–40cm tall, while its open centres offer bees and butterflies an easy place to feed.
Give Dahlia 'Taxi Driver' a generous pot on the patio or plant several together along the front of a border, where their cheerful yellow flowers can glow against deeper greens. The dark foliage looks particularly lovely beside silver-leaved plants, soft lavender flowers and lime-green grasses. A sunny, sheltered position and fertile, well-drained soil will keep Dahlia 'Taxi Driver' happy; water containers regularly in dry weather and remove spent flowers to encourage fresh buds. Unlike taller dahlias, its sturdy, bushy habit rarely requires staking, making it a pleasingly straightforward choice for smaller spaces. Flowering through summer and into autumn, Dahlia 'Taxi Driver' brings a little brightness to every corner without demanding the starring role.
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 'Taxi Driver'
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Tuber size
- 1
- Established height
- 70cm-1m
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Half hardy
- Leaf colour
- Bronze, near-black
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 5 tubers per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- 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
Wildlife 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
Top-size tubers
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