Dahlia 'City of Leiden'

* * * - - Based on 9 reviews
Dahlia 'City of Leiden' is the perfect colour – coral-pink with spiky cactus flowers and fantastic, dark-bronze leaves. More
1 tuber 229009-1 £3.95 Delivery late February
[?]
Due to increased levels of demand, please allow up to 3 weeks for despatch.
3 tubers 229009-3 £9.50 Delivery late February
[?]
Due to increased levels of demand, please allow up to 3 weeks for despatch.
More Details

Dahlia 'City of Leiden' is the perfect colour - coral-pink with spiky cactus flowers and fantastic, dark-bronze leaves. Quite a compact grower.

Our dahlias:

  • are first class, healthy tubers – the largest and best you can buy.
  • come with full planting, spacing and cultivating instructions for beginner gardeners
  • tubers should be potted up when they arrive and be kept in a light, frost-free place until the frosts are over and then be planted into the garden.

This can be gift wrapped in our exclusive hessian sack, with ribbon and a Sarah Raven gift card. You will be able to add this to your basket once you begin the checkout process. To add a gift message to your order, simply fill out the details at the delivery stage of the checkout.

Please note: only items which are showing ‘in stock’ can be gift wrapped.

Genus Dahlia
Group/Species Semi-cactus Group

Fully double blooms, with very pointed petals, almost spiky in appearance. Click here for more information about dahlia groups. 
Variety City of Leiden
Type Tender Perennial Tuber
Common Name Dahlia
Border Position Back, Middle
Bulb Size I
Soil Type Acid, Chalky, Fertile, Neutral
Scent Unscented
Site Full Sun
Moisture Moist but Well-drained
Height 60cm (24in)
Spacing Plant just under the soil surface, 75cm (30in) apart.
Sowing, Seeds, Planting Pot them up undercover March or early April in a generous pot (at least 2 litre) filled with multi-purpose potting compost. Place them in a light, frost-free place and keep the compost moist. Pinch out their growing tips when they have reached about 8" tall. They will have formed bushy plants by the time the frosts have ended and will be in flower by the beginning of July. If you don’t have anywhere to grow the potted tubers, you can put them straight into the ground when the frosts are nearly over, mulching them or protecting with a cloche or protective horticultural fleece if the foliage appears before the frosts are over, but this will delay flowering.
Care Tips Support with a stout stick, tie in every couple of weeks. In the south you can mulch deeply and overwinter them in the ground, alternatively, lift and overwinter your dahlias frost free undercover.
Flowering July - November
Vase Life Only pick dahlias in full flower. Recut the hollow stem ends under water to avoid airlocks.
Cooking Notes All dahlia flowers are edible. I use the petals scattered over salad and to decorate a range of puddings.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
  • Direct Sow/Plant Outdoors
  • Flowers/Harvest
Advice & Videos
History of the dahlia

First discovered by Aztec Indians and used for food and medicine, this tuber has an interesting history of cultivation.

Understanding dahlia groups

A list of the different dahlia groups, along with some classification info and an example of a variety in each group.

How to plant and grow dahlia tubers

Discover how to grow strong, healthy dahlias – how to plant, look after and overwinter them, and what to do with your bulbs when they arrive.

How to overwinter dahlia tubers

Sarah discusses the best options for overwintering dahlias – lifting or mulching.

Sublime dark dahlia flower arrangement

Sarah shows you how to make a gorgeous large arrangement of dahlias.

Planting narcissi bulbs with dahlias

Have a beautiful display of flowers in your garden from March to the first frosts with this simple planting technique.

New favourite dahlia arrangement

Sarah shows you how to make a quick arrangement of colourful dahlias.

Growing dahlias in pots

Sarah shows you her favourite dahlia varieties for pots, and gives you some tips on how to grow them successfully.

How to take dahlia cuttings

Watch and learn how to take dahlia cuttings – turn 1 tuber into 10.

How to plant up your dahlia tubers

In this video Sarah shows you how to plant up your dahlia tubers.

When To Plant Dahlias

Related Videos
Delivery

Bulb Delivery - Due to increased levels of demand, please allow up to 3 weeks for despatch.

Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.

Dahlia 'City of Leiden' reviews

* * * - - Average based on 9 reviews

* * - - -

Reviewed 7th September 2019 by Jennie

Plant is a bit floppy and sprawls. Not my favouite.

* * * * *

Reviewed 14th August 2019 by John

Tubers arrived rotten contact by email no response

Reply from the Sarah Raven Team:

"Thank you for your review, I can't seem to find the email you sent. We are sorry to hear of your disappointment with your Dahlias and have refunded you for them.
"

Posted 14th August 2019

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Reviewed 4th August 2019 by Susan

Tubers too small and poor quality

* * - - -

Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Ian

These have been a bit difficult at times and don't like changeable weather. One plant collapsed after getting too waterlogged with the tuber rotting while the first batch of buds and flowers on the surviving ones were a bit stunted. However, with recent sunny weather and regular feeding they are putting on stronger growth and may yet provide an end of season finale.

* * - - -

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by ROSALIND

It seems a weak grower not particularly good

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Sue

Service good, but tuber has failed to thrive - no flowers at all.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by John

Tubers arrived rotten contact by email no response

* * * * -

Reviewed 31st May 2019 by Julia
Colour disappointing.

* * * * -

Reviewed 31st August 2018 by Jean Laker

This dahlia turned out to be more red than pink, but this may be due to the dry conditions this year.

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