Dahlias with Dark Foliage
Dark-Leaved Dahlias
These unusual dahlia varieties are really worth mentioning and should not be overlooked by the gardener. Why? Because these beauties offer masses of stunning flower colors that contrast strikingly with their deep mahogany-to-black foliage. Effect in the garden guaranteed! Here is the roster of these most popular beauties.
Favorite Dark-Leaved Dahlias
Dahlia 'Bishop of Auckland'
With lacy, deep purple to near black foliage set against masses of glowing red flowers, Dahlia 'Bishop of Auckland' is a particularly striking Dahlia. Effect in the garden guaranteed! The single flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm) blend in nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. This glorious dahlia variety is considered the best of the Bishop series. Grows up to 36 inches (90 cm).
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My CollectionDahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff'
One of the most popular dark-leaved dahlias. The stunning contrast of its brilliant, scarlet flowers atop its dark eggplant-colored, almost black, foliage is simply irresistible. The semi-double flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm) blend in nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. Blooming massively from July until Frost, this dahlia grows up to 36 inches (90 cm) and is the winner of multiple prestigious awards
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My CollectionDahlia 'Bishop of Oxford'
Dahlia 'Bishop of Oxford' is a beautiful addition in the garden thanks to the stunning contrast of its brilliant, coppery orange flowers atop its eggplant-colored foliage. The single flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm) blend in nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. They are not top-heavy because they contain little water. They stand up nice and straight even when it rains.
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My CollectionDahlia 'David Howard'
Award-winning Dahlia 'David Howard' makes quite an impression on onlookers with its profuse and showy vibrant apricot-orange flowers set against the very dark purplish bronze foliage. The fully double flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm) are not top-heavy and remain upright and straight, even when it rains. Grows up to 36 in. tall (90 cm) and doesn't need much staking or support. Great garden or container variety, lovely dark bronze foliage.
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My CollectionDahlia 'Ellen Huston' (aka Dahlia 'Ellen Houston')
Award-winning Dahlia 'Ellen Houston' (aka Dahlia 'Ellen Houston) is a wonderful dwarf Dahlia with profuse and showy vibrant scarlet flowers set against the dark bronze-tinged foliage. No wonder it won multiple awards. The single flowers, up to 3.5 in. wide (9 cm), sometimes reveal their deep orange centers. Compact and very floriferous, this decorative dahlia is great for container plantings as well as beds and borders.
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My CollectionDahlia 'Fascination'
The stunning contrast of its eye-catching, shiny, bright violet-rose flowers with a very dark center against the deep bronze foliage is simply irresistible. The semi-double flowers, up to 6 in. wide (15 cm) blend in nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. A great dahlia variety that is perfect for pollinators, lovely in herbaceous borders and stunning in containers. This winner of multiple awards grows up to 36 inches (90 cm).
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My CollectionDahlia 'Happy Single First Love'
With a glorious dark foliage set against masses of apricot-pink flowers that have a small red ring surrounding their dark-brown centers, Dahlia 'Happy Single First Love' is a particularly striking Dahlia. The single flowers, up to 4 in. wide (11 cm), blend nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late season garden. Blooming massively from midsummer until Frost, this dahlia grows up to 24 inches (60 cm) and is an excellent choice for beds and borders, patio, deck, or balcony.
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My CollectionDahlia 'Happy Single Party'
With an attractive dark bronze to black foliage set against masses of canary yellow flowers, Dahlia 'Happy Single Party' is worth growing. The single flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm) blend nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. Very attractive to butterflies and bees, this dwarf dahlia is a very pretty and versatile plant that is ideal for small gardens or containers. Grows up to 32 inches (80 cm)
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My CollectionDahlia 'Happy Single Romeo'
With an attractive near black foliage set against masses of glowing, deep wine-red flowers with dark centers, Dahlia 'Happy Single Romeo' is a particularly striking Dahlia. The single flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm) blend nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. Very attractive to butterflies and bees, this dwarf dahlia is a very pretty and versatile plant that is ideal for small gardens or containers. Grows up to 32 inches (80 cm)
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My CollectionDahlia 'Happy Single Wink'
With an attractive near black foliage set against masses of glowing, velvety lilac flowers with a large purple-red center, Dahlia 'Happy Single Wink' is a particularly striking Dahlia. The single flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm) blend nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. Very attractive to butterflies and bees, this dwarf dahlia is a very pretty and versatile plant that is ideal for small gardens or containers. Grows up to 32 inches (80 cm)
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My CollectionDahlia 'Magenta Star'
A terrific Single Dahlia, award-winning Dahlia 'Magenta Star' features vivid magenta-pink, starry flowers with a dark reddish brown disk illuminated by a golden fringe. The blooms literally glow against the very dark purplish bronze foliage. Tall, this sturdy dahlia variety looks fabulous amongst perennials in a mixed border where its stunning foliage and unusual color can be admired.
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My CollectionDahlia 'Melody Harmony'
Flowering its heart out, award-winning Dahlia 'Melody Harmony' makes quite an impression on onlookers with its masses of creamy-white flowers fading to purple towards their petal tips. Borne on sturdy stems, the fully double flowers, up to 4.5 in. wide (11 cm), contrast beautifully with the dark green foliage, flushed with purplish-brown. Blooming massively from July until Frost, this dahlia grows up to 32 inches tall (80 cm). A great pick for borders, containers or as cut flowers.
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My CollectionDahlia 'Moonfire'
An absolute must for anyone who wants to grow dahlias. Dahlia 'Moonfire' features golden orange petals blushed with orange-red at their center, and a dark chocolate disc that glows with flecks of bright golden stamen. The effect is stunning against the dark bronze foliage. No wonder it won multiple awards. The single flowers, up to 3 in. wide (8 cm) add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. An absolute must for anyone who wants to grow dahlias. Grows up to 36 inches (90 cm)
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My CollectionDahlia 'Mystic Spirit'
With an attractive mahogany to black foliage set against masses of soft apricot, ribbed flowers with blush peach overtones and elegant dark centers, Dahlia 'Mystic Spirit' is a particularly lovely Dahlia. Very attractive to butterflies and bees, this dwarf dahlia requires little to no staking and is ideal for small gardens or containers.
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My CollectionDahlia 'Scura'
Compact and bushy, the delicate Mignon Dahlia 'Scura' is an adorable dwarf Dahlia producing masses of single, brilliant, rich tangerine orange flowers with dark orange centers. While these flowers are quite tiny, up to 1 in. wide (3 cm), they are absolutely eye-catching, contrasting beautifully with the green black foliage, and so profuse! This Dahlia flowers its heart out!
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My CollectionDahlia 'Sunshine'
Award-winning Dahlia 'Sunshine' is a particularly striking Dahlia with its golden yellow flowers with orange centers atop a mahogany fern-like foliage. No wonder it won multiple awards. Just look at it! The single flowers, up to 6-8 in. wide (15-20 cm) blend in nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders.
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My CollectionDahlia 'Twyning's After Eight'
Elegant and highly popular among the dark-leaved dahlias, 'Twyning's After Eight' is a Dahlia variety of rich contrast with its large, crisp white flowers sparkling atop its jet black foliage. The single flowers, up to 3 in. wide (8 cm), feature broad rays florets and a warm yellow-orange central disk. They blend in nicely with other plants and add welcomed color and form to the late summer and fall borders. The blooms are not top-heavy, stand up nice and straight even when it rains, and don't need staking.
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My CollectionYou may want to review these useful guides too
Best Dahlias For Containers and Low Borders
For containers and low borders, the best choices are the shorter dahlias with more compact shapes. Keep well watered and place in full sun. You can count on these powerhouses to produce abundant blooms from summer through fall – with some producing up to 40 flowers per plant!
Best Dahlias For Cutting
Dahlias are absolutely breathtaking flowers. They are widely available in such a huge range of intense colors that they can be used in any setting. All dahlias make tremendous cut flowers – the more you cut them, the more they bloom! Still, some are considered superstars.
Great Ornamental Grasses to Grow with Your Favorite Dahlias
Fabulous planting partners for dahlias, ornamental grasses help create incredibly beautiful planting combinations. In contrast with dahlias which boldly inject bright colors and broad-petalled flowers in the garden, grasses contribute their beauty in a more subtle fashion through their transparency, luminosity, texture, and seasonal changes.
Great Perennial Plants to Grow with Your Favorite Dahlias
Injecting color, drama, and late-summer fireworks in the garden, dahlias look fabulous on their own or combined with other plants. Many are graceful and integrate well into most borders, creating appealing planting combinations and providing interest from mid-summer until the first frost.
Dahlia
The rich variety of their flower colors, shapes and sizes added to their extensive blooming season have turned dahlias into a popular addition to our landscapes. There are thousands of varieties of dahlias (!!!) and they are all classified by the shape, size and color of their flowers.
Garden Examples
Guide Information
Hardiness |
8 - 11
|
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 11
|
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Bulbs, Perennials |
Plant Family | Dahlia |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy |
Landscaping Ideas | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Cutting Garden, Informal and Cottage |
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Guide Information
Hardiness |
8 - 11
|
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 11
|
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Bulbs, Perennials |
Plant Family | Dahlia |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy |
Landscaping Ideas | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Cutting Garden, Informal and Cottage |
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