Dahlia 'Downham Royal'

* * * * * Based on 6 reviews
Dahlia 'Downham Royal' is a neat, small-flowered dahlia the perfect size for hand-tied bunches and mixed arrangements. More
1 x 3 litre pot 190429-3L £10.50 Delivery late May
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When in stock, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for despatch. For bare root roses, fruit & veg bare roots & crowns, potatoes & garlic, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.

Or buy this as part of our Party Dahlia Collection and Venetian Dahlia Collection.

More Details

A neat, small-flowered dahlia the perfect size for hand-tied bunches and mixed arrangements. It's a lovely rich Cardinal purple. I've now grown 'Downham Royal' for years and love it for picking.

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 Ball Group

Larger than pompoms and have a spiral arrangement of incurved petals forming a ball-shaped flower. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.
Variety Downham Royal
Type Tender Perennial
Common Name Dahlia
Border Position Cutting Garden
Soil Type Broad Tolerance
Scent Unscented
Site Full Sun
Moisture Moist but Well-drained
Height 1.2m (4ft)
Spacing 75cm (30in)
Sowing, Seeds, Planting Plant just under the soil surface after the last frosts. Alternativley 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
Understanding dahlia groups

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

History of the dahlia

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

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

Plant Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for despatch. For bare root roses, fruit & veg bare roots & crowns, potatoes & garlic, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.

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

Dahlia 'Downham Royal' reviews

* * * * * Average based on 6 reviews

* * * * *

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Jane

All brilliant - looking great now - one of my favorites

* * * * *

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Christine

Advised immediately upon ordering when to expect plant, which arrived in excellent condition. Grew as expected, and as of todays date (31.7.19) just one flower so far, which is as illustrated in catalogue.

The star of the Venetian Dahlia Collection

* * * * *

Reviewed 4th November 2018 by JuneyG

This was the only one of the collection that flowered prolifically until the first frosts. Now I've dug them up the tubers look great - hoping for a repeat next year!

Well worth the money!

* * * * *

Reviewed 13th October 2018 by Helen

Gorgeous flowers and lots of them. I love the colour and the shape. They are a mid size dahlia, bigger than the tiny buttonhole ones. The plant grew large and healthy and came back strong from last year.

Best of venietian collection

* * * * *

Reviewed 23rd September 2018 by June

This is the only one of the collection that has lived up to expectations . Prolific

Beautiful Dahlia

* * * * *

Reviewed 11th August 2018 by Alan Stewart

Grew this for the first time this year and its a delight; an incredible colour with perfect ball flowers, has been flowering almost since planting in June. Goes really well with terracotta colours. Highly recommended.

Read more reviews