History of the dahlia
First discovered by Aztec Indians and used for food and medicine, this tuber has an interesting history of cultivation.
1 tuber 229300-1 | £3.95 |
Delivery late February
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When in stock, please allow 3-4 working days for despatch.
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3 tubers 229300-3 | £9.95 |
Delivery late February
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When in stock, please allow 3-4 working days for despatch.
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Or buy this as part of our Swan Lake Dahlia Collection.
From the same family as the super-popular 'Blue Bayou', 'Totally Tangerine' and 'Hot Cakes', this is the first of this group in a pale, serene cream and already set to be a classic.
Our dahlias:
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.
Genus | Dahlia |
Group/Species |
Anemone Group Centre compromises of dense elongated tubes rather than a disc. The outer parts have one or more rings of flattened petals. Click here for more information about dahlia groups. |
Variety | Platinum Blonde |
Type | Tender Perennial Tuber |
Common Name | Dahlia |
Border Position | Middle |
Bulb Size | I |
Soil Type | Acid, Chalky, Clay, Fertile, Neutral |
Scent | Unscented |
Site | Full Sun |
Moisture | Moist but Well-drained |
Height | 90cm (36in) |
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 | Change the water regularly and add a dash of cider vinegar or bleach as you do. |
Harvesting | Flower production - 4 to 5 months |
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 |
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First discovered by Aztec Indians and used for food and medicine, this tuber has an interesting history of cultivation.
A list of the different dahlia groups, along with some classification info and an example of a variety in each group.
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.
Sarah discusses the best options for overwintering dahlias – lifting or mulching.
Sarah shows you how to make a gorgeous large arrangement of dahlias.
Have a beautiful display of flowers in your garden from March to the first frosts with this simple planting technique.
Sarah shows you how to make a quick arrangement of colourful dahlias.
Sarah shows you her favourite dahlia varieties for pots, and gives you some tips on how to grow them successfully.
Watch and learn how to take dahlia cuttings – turn 1 tuber into 10.
In this video Sarah shows you how to plant up your dahlia tubers.
Bulb Delivery - When in stock, please allow 3-4 working days for despatch.
Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.
Dahlia 'Platinum Blonde' reviews
Reviewed 12th August 2019 by Blenda Lovely healthy plant with lots of flowers |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Andrew A top tuber that quickly sprouted. Good plant with an unusual anemone-type flower. My favourite this year. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Julie slow at blooming but lots of buds |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Jan Again I received another wrong tuber! Really unimpressed with the service. I have been refunded for both tubers. |
Beautiful
Reviewed 11th August 2017 by Penny Reed The first dahlia I have grown from a tuber and I'm so pleased with my purchase. Lots of flowers, larger than I'd expected but so pretty and elegant and I'm delighted that the bees and hover flies love them. |
dormant?
Reviewed 15th June 2017 by Angela Tickle I bought Platinum Blonde and Cafe au Lait dahlias, potted them immediately and kept them in the upright coldframe until after the frosts had passed. Cafe au lait is now a vigorous healthy bush but the Platinum Blonde dahlia has not grown at all, so I dug it up for inspection and there are simply bare tubers. Does this sometimes happen or have I done something wrong? All your other plants have responded so well and apart from a packet of zinnia seeds which flowered the wrong colour I am pleased with all my Sarah Raven purchases. Reply from the Sarah Raven Team:"Thank you for your feedback. Posted 17th July 2017 |