Sam Hopkins Dahlia Tubers

Sam Hopkins: Waterlily Dahlia Tubers

For that elegant, classic waterlily shape, Sam Hopkins is the man for you. As they open, the fairly big blooms look as if they have tailored from near black velvet, and they hold a deep maroon colour until they are over.
Browse our other Waterlily Dahlias or our full range of Dahlias here.

He is not the biggest dahlia, topping out at about 100cm (3ft 3 inches) and spreading to about 60cm (2ft) so he should be grown mid-border. Also great in your cutting garden.

Features

1. Colour: Maroon with touches of black
2. Foliage: Green
3. Flower Size: 10-15cm
4. Type: Waterlily
5. Cutting: Yes
6. Height/Spread: 100 cm x 60cm
7. Flowering: July to November
8. Outdoor Planting Months: March to July

Growing Sam Hopkins Dahlias

If growing in a container, you'll need at least a 10 litre pot.

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.

The stems are sturdy, but the flowers collect water when it rains, making them heavy, and thus the stems break easily in a wind. So a sheltered spot is ideal, and stake him well.

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

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?

A modern Dutch variety from the breeder Geerlings, introduced in 2005.