2 tubers 229260-2 £8.95 Delivery late February
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4 tubers 229260-4 £15.50
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The new, perhaps even more glamorous sister of 'Jescot Julie', 'Dark Butterfly' – its crimson petal backs matching the silk petals of 'Ripples'.

This collection contains:

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 Decorative Group

Broad and flat petals, normally bluntly pointed, with no central disc showing. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.
Variety Dark Butterfly, Ripples
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
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.

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

Shot Silk Dahlia Collection reviews

* * * * * Average based on 9 reviews

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Reviewed 12th September 2019 by Lorna

I had such high hopes for this collection. The catalogue photos and description and some of the customer reviews made this sound a perfect choice for cut flower arrangements. And I agree that they are very beautiful flowers that go well together. But .. Ripples produced one enormous flower in early August, then nothing until the second week of September when it produced four or five flowers, and no further buds to be seen. ( It is a very short plant - barely 30cm). Dark Butterfly has just produced its first flower (the second week of September) and there are no further buds to be seen. Unless the pair of them are planning a surprise appearance in October, I won’t be picking these two for any flower arrangements this year.

* * * * *

Reviewed 10th August 2019 by Elizabeth

Lovely strong plants, even though they were planted late due to being bought in the sale.

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Reviewed 3rd August 2019 by Celia

Fantastic tubers putting on a great show.

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Reviewed 2nd August 2019 by Pat

I believe that one contained Dark butterfly. Unfortunately it did not grow

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Duncan

Unfortunately none of the dahlias grew

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Carol

Beautiful colours, and blooming prolifically in my garden. Plenty of flowers for the house as well. Wonderful. I love them

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Eleanor

Firstly my mother often buys from you and always has an amazing display. This year I joint purchased tulips with her which were fabulous and subsequently bought dahlias they are in bloom now . Everything arrived on time with no damage. I will need more slug control next year as I lost one to the little critters

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Sharon

Would not thought service or quality.

Stunning!

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Reviewed 11th October 2018 by ruth timperley

Have never grown Dahlias before, thought them rather suburban if I'm honest. But I was seduced by the photographs in the catalogue. Wow!! am I glad I was. They are stunning. Can't make up my mind which is my favourite but together they are glorious. Still flowering their heads off second week in October with plenty of buds still opening. Haven't needed staking.

Read more reviews