From pastel to bright
Pink is where dahlia breeders have been most generous. 'Café au Lait' is a big, loose decorative with creamy blush flowers, often chosen for wedding work. The waterlily type 'Figurine', the semi-cactus 'Pink Pastelle' and the narrow-petalled 'Pink Giraffe' are all well regarded, and these three hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Pairing and timing
In the language of flowers pink is the soft, affectionate colour. That is a lovely idea for a late-summer birthday or anniversary, but it does not suit Mothering Sunday, because garden dahlias do not open until July. Stick to one pink shade with plenty of green for a calm effect, or mix pale and deep pinks for energy. Roses and silvery foliage sit well beside them.
Storing the tubers
A dahlia will not tolerate frost, so many Irish gardeners lift the tubers in autumn:
- Cut the stems down after the first frosts blacken the foliage.
- Lift carefully and let the tubers dry in a cool, airy place.
- Pack them in slightly damp compost or wood shavings in a frost-free shed.
- Check through winter and discard anything that has gone soft.
Gardens in mild coastal pockets may get away with leaving them under mulch, though wet winter soil is the greater danger there.
Animals
Dahlias are listed by the ASPCA as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with mild gastrointestinal upset and mild dermatitis as the usual result.
