American Dream Dahlia Tubers

American Dream Dahlias

American Dream is a flamboyant late-summer star with just the right amount of stripes. Growing up to 1.2m and nearly as much in spread, she's an independent spirit that benefits from a little space to shine. But shine she will, the shocking pink semi-cactus flowers with a raspberry stripe opening from August to October. She's a prolific flowerer, too, and with some judicious deadheading you'll have blooms until the first frosts. The foliage is a rich green colour and fabulously healthy looking.
Browse our other Cactus Dahlias or our full range of Dahlias.

Features

• Group: Semi-Cactus
• Colour: Pink with raspberry red stripes
• Height: 1.2m
• Scent: none
• Flowering: July to September or beyond
• Size: 15-20cm
• Great for cutting

Growing American Dream Dahlias

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.

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

Leave a space of around 75cm between each plant.

Planting companions for American Dream

A winning way with dahlias is to plant them alongside more dahlias. Vary the flower shape, height and foliage colour for interest and choose something in a complementary tone and you're away. Wizard of Oz, a soft paler pink ball dahlia, would make a lovely partner for American Dream. As would any other white, magenta or claret-coloured dahlia. The simple star-shaped flowers of the Honka cultivars make a striking contrast. Matching American Dream in loftiness, and providing a pretty, airy juxtaposition is Verbena bonariensis.

Always good with dahlias are ornamental grasses, especially those with fluffy seedheads such as pennisetum vilosum. Cosmos and phlox often make the grade, frequently lasting into the autumn months in a display worthy of an Independence Day celebration.

Did you know?

A relative newcomer, it was introduced in 2002 by the famous Dutch dahlia specialists at H.A van Eeuwijk & Zn, whose display is a cornerstone of the Holland Dahlia Event.

Dahlias were introduced to the UK in 1789 from Spain, although they're natives of the high sandy plains of Mexico. They're been cultivated here since the beginning of the 19th century, and we now have around 20,000 different varieties of dahlia, most descended from Dahlia variabilis and D. coccinea. They're named after Dr Dahl, a pupil of Carl Linnaeus.

Cactus dahlias' fabulous petals are a little like spines, rolled up for about two-thirds of the length, and often curved in or out.

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.