ANNUALS

Art Deco Dahlia

No garden would be complete without dahlias, one of summertime’s most diverse, prolific and long-blooming specimens. Originally native to Guatemala and Mexico, dahlias can be found in a dizzying array of shapes and sizes, and every color but blue. And, it’s no secret that they are the perfect cut flower. At this writing, we are offering an impressive selection of these bright and cheerful garden essentials.

In large containers, we have several dinnerplate-style dahlias: bright white ‘Fleurel’ (from Holland), lemon-yellow ‘Kelvin Floodlight’, pink and white ‘Sorbet’, brilliant orange ‘Babylon Bronze’, and more. ‘Sangria’ is a variety which nearly defies description; suffice it to say, the yellow and salmon flowers are spectacular! And the rich red of another showstopper, ‘Naomi’, will practically take your breath away. These dahlias all have a tuber which can be pulled and stored come first frost. (For instructions on storing dahlias, be sure to pick up our handy information sheet on the subject.)

In 6” pots, we have the always-popular shorter Gallery series: the choices include ‘Art Deco’, ‘Matisse’, ‘Rivera’, and ‘Vincent’. The beautiful bronzy-leafed Bishop series is also available. Check out orange-blooming ‘Bishop of Oxford’, regal red-flowering ‘Bishop of Llandoff’, as well as the lively mix of ‘Bishop’s Children’.

Finally, available in economical 4” pots, we have the colorful ‘Figaro’ and ‘Harlequin’ mixes.

Dahlias will perform best in full to partial sun, in well-draining enriched soil. Some of the larger dahlias can be planted solo in a large pot, to make a grand statement, or placed in beds to tower over a kingdom of other annuals and perennials. The more humbly-sized varieties can be added to mixed containers, or planted along borders, offering up splashes of color well into fall.

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