Dahlia Happy Days 'Orange Red Bicolour'

Watermelon red, blended with a tangerine halo over dark, dissected foliage. It's a magical combination.

Happy days are here again with these dwarf foliage Dahlias ready to rock and roll all summer long. Perfect for pots or beds, the bright flowers really pop against the midnight foliage. They are compact, well branched and easy to grow and love. They differ from the Mystic Dahlias as their foliage is a little fuller and they are more compact.

Pollinators love the flowers, though there are more than enough to share, and even bring indoors for a vase. Try them en masse, as border fillers, colourful accents or in containers. You can relax, there is no staking needed for these beauties.

They have been planted earlier, in a hot house, so will flower earlier, the following seasons will be a little later. The tubers will appear small, but so are the plants, they won't be as big as regular garden Dahlias. They are frost sensitive so should be treated with care and lifted in the garden, sheltered in pots or treated as an annual. In cold climates you might see some foliage die back initially, they will bounce back when the weather warms.

In cold climates, hold off on planting them outdoors until after the threat of frost has passed. Plant Dahlias into moist, humus rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot, they need at least six hours of sun to flower well - morning sun is ideal as the hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves. If you have the time, we recommend digging a well rotted cow/sheep manure though the soil prior to planting. They are already up and growing, so water well, ensuring they have adequate drainage. They tend to grow larger in the garden than they will in pots, where their growth can be restricted.