11 Dahlias In Shades Of Pink Chosen By Dachshund Dahlia Plant Nursery
Reviewed By DAN ORI
Dan has over 27 years’ under his belt caring for plants and gardens. Working as a Horticultural Instructor and Consultant, he draws on a diverse range of experience that includes working as a Head Gardener, Tree Surgeon, Garden Centre Trouble Shooter, and writer of academic papers. Dan has a Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture and is currently a candidate for the RHS’s most prestigious award – The Master of Horticulture.
Contributions From ELAINE PATULLO
A dahlia lover based in Scotland, Elaine owns Dachshund Dahlia Plant Nursery, a specialist seller that offers some varieties of dahlias for sale that are not commonly found in the UK.
IN THIS GUIDE
With a lengthy blooming season and a wide range of architectural forms to choose from, dahlias are an ideal summer flower.
Indeed, the more you pare them back, the more they blossom, meaning your hard work receives an almost instant reward.
It’s no surprise that pink is among the most popular colour for garden displays, either.
Capable of mixing well with pretty much any other colour scheme, they’re a breath of fresh air and instantly liven up any environment.
“My favourite pink dahlia is ‘Bishop of Leicester’, as the subtle tone changes of pink in the petals look like they have been painted using a fine watercolour brush,” shares Horticultural Consultant Dan Ori.
“This is a plant of competing colours with watercolour pink petals centred with vibrant yellow stamens and dramatic dark foliage.
“It is an excellent option for when you are trying to knit together a border containing contrasting colours. It has an average height of 70cm and spreads to 50cm, making it a useful plant for the front or middle of a border.”
Below, I have handpicked my own choice of a number of pink dahlia varieties for your perusal.
All of these varieties mentioned below are H3 hardy, growing in full sun in a sheltered location, and produce flowers in the summer and autumn months.
1) D. ‘Kilburn Rose’
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘Kilburn Rose’
- FLOWERS: Pink and orange
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
‘Kilburn Rose’ is a waterlily-style dahlia of medium height, growing up to 120cm at full maturity.
Its double petals are a startling shade of peach, while the softer pinks and bright yellows of its centre make it appear as though the flower heads are positively glowing.
Set against the greenery of its foliage, the blossoms of ‘Kilburn Rose’ are a sight for sore eyes indeed and look best when arranged in clusters of five or six plants next to one another.
2) D. ‘Magenta Star’ (Sin)
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘Magenta Star’
- FLOWERS: Pink
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; any pH
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 0.5-1m spread
Ever so slightly taller than ‘Kilburn Rose’, ‘Magenta Star’ can reach up to 130cm in height and boasts single flower heads of around 10cm in diameter.
The dramatic magenta pink of their petals gives way to a deep rusty red disc at their centre, fringed by golden anthers.
Like most dahlias, it has a longevity to its blossoms which extends right up until the first frosts, but the unusual brown foliage and stems mean it still carries intrigue even when not in bloom.
3) D. ‘Topmix Pink’ (Sin/DwB)
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘Topmix Pink’
- FLOWERS: Pink and yellow
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; any pH
- SIZE: 0.1-0.5m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
The ‘Topmix’ range of dahlias are floriferous bushy plants with single flowers and low-growing habits.
‘Pink’ does what it says on the tin by displaying bright pink petals around a yellow honeycomb centre, creating a pleasing contrast against the dark green foliage beneath.
‘Topmix Pink’ is among the smallest offerings on this list, with its total height and spread not exceeding 30cm and its flower-heads measuring a mere 6cm in diameter.
As such, it’s perfect for container cultivation or for filling in little nooks and crannies in a mixed border.
4) D. Happy Single Wink
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia [happy single wink]
- FLOWERS: Pink, red and purple
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; any pH
- SIZE: 0.5-1m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
‘Happy Single Wink’ is another dwarf dahlia on the smaller side, but one that’s no less cheerful for its diminutive dimensions – as the name attests!
It is characterised by single bright pink petals darkening to a deep crimson at their centre, while yellow anthers add a further splash of vibrancy.
The plant can reach up to 60cm in height and the flower heads 10cm across, making them ideal for adding late summer or autumn colour to your borders and beds.
5) D. ‘Gallery Rembrandt’
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘gallery rembrandt’
- FLOWERS: Pink
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; any pH
- SIZE: 0.5-1m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
Another dwarf variety, ‘Gallery Rembrandt’ shares similar dimensions with ‘Happy Single Wink’, though its flowers are comprised of fully double petals rather than single ones.
Bright pink fades to a lighter shade of lilac at the edges of the petals, with a yellow hue imbuing the centre of the bloom.
They’re particularly prolific flowerers from midsummer right until the temperatures plummet and the frost sets in, so they’re great for keeping your garden active and attractive when other plants are dying back.
6) D. ‘Vancouver’ (Misc)
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘Vancouver’
- FLOWERS: Pink and white
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam sand; any pH
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 0.5-1m spread
One of the more ostentatious options on this list, ‘Vancouver’ is a fully double dinner plate variety of dahlia with blooms that can reach a whopping 25cm in diameter!
Dinner plate varieties are a favourite of dahlia specialist Elaine Patullo, the owner of Dachshund Dahlia Plant Nursery, who loves them for their size and ‘wow-factor’.
At up to 1m in height, they’re great for placing among tall grasses or in a mixed herbaceous border to draw the eye.
What’s more, the colouring on ‘Vancouver’ dahlias is no less showy.
While pink and cream vie for supremacy in the flecked petals, there are also suggestions of blue, violet and burgundy on display here, too.
7) D. ‘Franz Kafka’ (Pom)
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘Franz Kafka’
- FLOWERS: Pink and purple
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; any pH
- SIZE: 0.5-1m in height, 0.5-1m spread
Although ‘Franz Kafka’ is a dahlia of reasonable stature (80cm at full maturity), its flower heads are among the smallest of any cultivar at just 5cm across.
Tightly compacted ruffles of bright pink petals make for beautiful pompons that bob atop their stems in the breeze.
This disparity between their height and flower size makes them an intriguing choice for a mixed herbaceous border.
At the same time, the delicate daintiness of the blossoms means they’re just as popular as part of a multi-coloured bouquet, too.
8) D. ‘Vassio Meggos’
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘Vassio Meggos’
- FLOWERS: Pink and purple
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
This clump-forming dahlia is an offshoot of the Spartacus variety and has a range of attributes in its favour.
Firstly, there’s its size; at up to 140cm in height, it’s one of the tallest dahlias available, while a single plant can produce up to 25 flowering heads at the same time.
As for the blossoms themselves, they’re no shrinking violets at up to 25cm in diameter.
Lavender-pink in colour, the double petals fold back towards the stem in a highly pleasing manner, marking them out as a showstopper in any setting.
9) D. ‘Bluetiful’
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘Bluetiful’
- FLOWERS: Pink and purple
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; any pH
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 0.5-1m spread
As the name suggests, ‘Bluetiful’ carries a blueish tinge to the lavender-pink of its petals.
The flowers are decorative in shape and feature a slightly ruffled structure to their petal placement, making them almost reminiscent of the surrealist paintings of Salvador Dalí or someone similar.
It is these captivating attributes which make ‘Bluetiful’ such a charming addition to any outdoor display.
At 90cm in height and with flowers approximately 13cm across, it’s a versatile option which can complement similarly low-key colour schemes.
10) D. ‘Café au Lait’
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘café au lait’
- FLOWERS: Pink, cream and orange
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; any pH
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 0.5-1m spread
Another decorative dahlia, ‘Café au Lait’ takes its name from the fact that its flowers begin life with the creamy white colour of milk, tinged with the tan of coffee.
However, as it matures, you’ll notice an irresistible apricot hue spread across the flowerhead, giving it a softer and dreamier aspect.
The size of the blossoms can reach up to 20cm and this, coupled with the sumptuous colouring of its fully double petals, makes it a perennial favourite with wedding planners.
11) D. ‘Take Off’ (Anem)
- COMMON NAME(S): Dahlia ‘Take Off’
- FLOWERS: Pink and yellow
- SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
- SIZE: 0.5-1m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
‘Take Off’ is of the anemone flowering dahlia variety, which has a tendency to display muted tones in its colouring.
This stunning specimen combines mauve lower petals with creamy-pink upper ones, flecked with edgings of yellow.
All in all, it makes for a rather jaw-dropping addition to your borders.
With flowers 8cm across and 90cm in height on the plant itself, it’s a striking but space-efficient option for your display.
