Garden Wonder Dahlia Tubers

Garden Wonder: Decorative Dahlia Tubers

Garden Wonder Dahlias are a cause for a red alert! If you want a dose of pure, vibrant, proper "look at me, because you can't not" red in your garden then these should be perfect for you. This fabulous, decorative type dahlia is fully double deep red crimson, and the flowers, between 10-15cm across, are held above compact plants with attractive green, divided foliage. It makes an excellent cut flower for arrangements and bouquets, and it is a popular choice for exhibiting at flower shows.
Browse our other Decorative Dahlias or our full range of Dahlias here.

Features

• Colour: Vibrant crimson red
• Foliage: Green divided leaves
• Flower Size: 10 to 15cm
• Type: Decorative Dahlia
• Cutting: Yes
• Height/Spread: 90cm x 40cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Outdoor Planting Months: March to July

Growing Garden Wonder Dahlias

This versatile dahlia grows happily in large pots and is compact enough for any terrace, patio, decking or balcony.

All dahlias do best in deep rich soil with good drainage in a sunny spot. If it is windy they will need staking. They are greedy, thirsty plants so will need watering in dry spells, and they will always flower that little bit better if there is a bit of soluble food in the watering can once every couple of weeks.

Despite the size of the plants and the large flowers, it has incredibly stout stems, so doesn't need as heavy staking as many other varieties do, although some support in windy areas will still be needed.

It is generally more convenient to put support stakes in at planting time, rather than leaving it until there is foliage in the way.

Planting Companions for Garden Wonder

Its vivid red colour will sit perfectly in a hot, exotic planting scheme, along with orange and yellow flowers and deep-coloured leaves.

A mainstay of late mixed border displays, plant alongside end-of-season bloomers like Echinacea and Rudbeckia for a great show.

If you ignore seed, Dahlias can be planted at three stages: as tubers, rooted cuttings and pot-grown plants.

Tubers can be planted at any time from March onwards. The hole should be at least double the diameter of the tuber laid out on the ground. Incorporate about 25% well rotted compost and if drainage is in any way doubtful then add plenty of horticultural grit as well. Plant one tuber per hole, leaving 60-80 cms between plants (depending on final size) and make sure the tuber is covered with 10-12 cms (4-5") of soil. This is important as it will insulate the tuber against frosts in March-May as they will take a couple of months to show.

Rooted cuttings, which are available from early April onwards, will need to be potted up and kept in a sunny and frost free place until they are ready to be planted out in mid May. Their treatment then is the same as for tubers except they are planted level with rather than 10 cms below the surrounding soil level.

Pot grown plants are not delivered until June, and are then planted out immediately in the same way as an established rooted cutting.

The more you deadhead, the more flowers you'll get.

Did You Know?

Garden Wonder is Dutch and was introduced in either 1973 or 1979 - there is another cultivar of the same name by the same breeder, and some of our sources clearly must have them muddled up...but which ones?