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Recommendations for dark-flowered Dahlias?

NollieNollie Posts: 7,053
in Plants
I tried Arabian Nights last year, but even with good support and pinching out it was extremely floppy and straggly. Are there any sturdy dark red/pink/black dahlias that hold their heads up better? No more than 1m high, ideally even shorter...

Any suggestions?
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,436
    I grew "Bishop of Canterbury " last year. That stayed upright and grew to about 2.5 feet or 75cm. Lovely colour (not my photo, but it gives a good idea of the colour).
     :) 

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,409
    Both Downham Royal and Karma Naomi have proved very reliable for me over several years, though my conditions will be rather different from yours. :)
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,053
    I've grown black cat/chat noir and rip city, both lovely.
    Devon.
  • EnnylEnnyl Posts: 24
    I planted Verrone's Obsidian last year - very pretty, upright. South facing border so coped with sunny, dry conditions. Here is pic with it plus echinacea, heuchera
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,053
    Ooh, thank you, lots of lovely suggestions! I like Rip City for it’s slightly mad look, so will try that as an alternative to Arabian Night. Love the colour of the Bishop of Canterbury, but wondered about a mini-me version called Dragon. I do seem to be veering toward the more open style.

    Anyone grow Mexican Star or Night Butterfly?

    So far I’m thinking:

    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,053
    Mary Evelyn is very similar to Night Butterfly
    Devon.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Mexican Star looks lovely. V much my cup of char
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,740
    I like Night Butterfly.

    I'm surprised Arabian Nights is floppy, it does very well here. It is one of the ones that always makes it through winter left out in the garden. I have one over 15 years old that I've never moved.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    ... intense heat and dry might well lead to different outcomes.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,053
    Thanks, I saw Mary Evelyn, @Hostafan1 but thought Night Butterfly was a slightly richer colour. I am sure someone grows it, I recall some photos on the Garden Gallery, but can’t remember who posted it (too many pages to trawl through with my slow internet!) but hoping they may spot this post.

    @Fire, Mexican Star is a Dahlia/Chocolate Cosmos hybrid... apparently it has retained the chocolaty smell. 

    Dahlias do really well here and most of them stand up ok... I am sure others had difficulties with Arabian Nights flopping, I think it was @WillDB or @B3 ? Do you grow it in France or the UK, @Busy-Lizzie?
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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