Reds worth knowing
Dahlia is a daisy-family plant, so each 'flower' is really a head of many tiny florets. The reds range from scarlet to near black:
- 'Bishop of Llandaff' has semi-double scarlet flowers over dark purplish foliage.
- 'Dovegrove' is a single with an open centre that pollinators can reach.
- 'Grenadier' and 'Zorro' are double decorative types, 'Zorro' in a deep crimson.
- 'Chat Noir' is a semi-cactus in dark wine red.
Every one of these carries the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Garden or vase
Red is the natural centre of an autumn arrangement. Mix it with orange and yellow flowers, dark leaves and a few berry stems, or keep a single deep-red variety on its own. Cut when the flower is nearly open and stand it in cool, clean water.
Pests in a damp country
Slugs and snails strip new shoots in spring, and a wet Irish spring gives them every encouragement. Set traps or barriers early. Earwigs nibble petals later in summer, but they rarely do lasting harm.
Red and its traditions
Red is traditionally the colour of love and strong feeling. Dahlias themselves are often linked with dignity in flower-meaning lists, though those lists differ from book to book.
For pet owners
The ASPCA says dahlias are toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with mild stomach and skin signs. Keep a vet's number to hand if a nibbler has been at the stems.
