Dahlia 'Karma Choc'

* * * * * Based on 10 reviews
Its stems are as black as its beautiful velvet flowers...incredible. The Karma group have also been bred for use as a cut flower and in general have a better vase life than other dahlias. More
1 tuber 229163-1 £3.95

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2 tubers 229163-2 £6.95

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1 x 3 litre pot 229163-3L £9.95

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Or buy this as part of our Bonanza Dahlia Collection.

More Details

Its stems are as black as its beautiful velvet flowers...incredible. The Karma group have also been bred for use as a cut flower and in general have a better vase life than other dahlias.

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.

Genus Dahlia
Group/Species Decorative Group

Broad and flat petals, normally bluntly pointed, with no central disc showing. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.
Variety Karma Choc
Type Tender Perennial Tuber
Common Name Dahlia
Border Position Middle
Bulb Size I
Soil Type Acid, Chalky, Fertile, Neutral
Scent Unscented
Site Full Sun
Moisture Moist but Well-drained
Height 80cm (32in)
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 unprecedented levels of demand, please allow up to 4 weeks for despatch.

Plant Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 3 weeks for delivery. 

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

Dahlia 'Karma Choc' reviews

* * * * * Average based on 10 reviews

* * * * -

Reviewed 5th August 2019 by Jocelyn

Good strong plant, flowering well

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Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Jane

Doing well. And, as ever delivery and packaging was faultless

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Helen

* * - - -

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Val

See above....it was a collection!

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Alia

This is one of the most beautiful Dahlias I have ever had. Nice big flowers, very healthy plant and whoever sees it in my garden instantly gets drawn to this beauty.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Deborah

No signs of any buds yet however the foliage is fantastic

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Mellie
Buy this!

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Reviewed 13th October 2018 by Helen

Another one I bought in the sale when I really shouldn't have been spending more money on dahlias! Beautiful on the plant, beautiful in the vase, still producing a lot of flowers now in mid October when the others are winding down. The stems are a different colour to most dahlias, so it's an interesting addition to the garden. I'm hoping this comes back just as good next year when I may well buy another. Thoroughly recommend!

Good for the North

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Reviewed 9th December 2017 by Kay Harris

I was inspired to try Dahlias some years ago by Sarah's wonderful way with colour, I used to think they were a bit fuddy duddy and difficult. I am a novice gardener working in the high Pennines so our season is not just cooler than just about everywhere else but short too; I couldn't imagine such colours and profusion would grow here. Karma Choc was among the first I tried. I still have that same first tuber years later (Sorry Sarah I really must attempt to divide it!) and every year I plant it out and without further ado it produces bunches and bunches of flowers. The dramatic dark red goes with lots of other colours and makes sure my bunches never look fuddy duddy. Fantastic with Jescott Julie and Mambo both very tough, reliable and trouble free. Each year I try a couple of new varieties but whatever I grow I always grow these three, and at the end of the growing season when the rest of the garden is spent and looking a bit sad, the dahlia bed is always resplendent with profusion and colour, I have bunches of flowers in the house in glowing colours and enough to give bunches away too. Thank you Sarah.

Good strong grower!

* * * * *

Reviewed 26th January 2017 by Helena Newsom

I'm a novice with dahlias and have no greenhouse or fancy equipment. In 2016 this one started to sprout, grew, and flowered better than my other 3 SR dahlias varieties (eg Blue Bayou, which was really feeble). I'll be giving away bits of Karma Choc to friends, there's so much tuber now. Don't think you can go wrong with this one. Sarah Raven, please can we have ease/strength of growth ratings for your dahlias? Would really help.

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