Preference Dahlias

If traditional flowers for the cutting garden are your thing, then you can't go wrong with Dahlia Preference. It's a heritage semi-cactus variety in the softest shades of apricot and pale pink, with a hint of orange in its darker centres.

The long, elegant petals pale to cream, making a classic bloom that goes so well with many other styles of dahlias. Browse our full Dahlia range.

Great In Your Garden

Preference has been a cutting garden favourite for generations, and it's easy to see why. Its soft colours and architectural flower shape contrasts so well with deep red, purple and burgundy or yellow dahlias, especially in pompom, ball or decorative types.

It's a prolific flowerer and has the added benefit of standing up well to wet weather, as its 10-15cm bloom, while still being impressive, aren't top heavy. However, it's still wise to plant Preference in a sheltered location to protect flowers from strong winds. A favourite of flower arrangers not just for its colours or shape, it also has a longer vase life than most other dahlias.

As quite an upright dahlia, you can pack more plants into your beds - plant at least five together for the best effect. They will also grow in large pots in a location sheltered from excessive winds.

Features

Colour: Apricot-pink with a hint of orange at the centres and petals fading to cream
Foliage: Green divided leaves
Flower Size: 10-15cm
Type: Semi-cactus Dahlia
Cutting: Yes
Height/Spread: 1.2m x 50cm
Flowering: July to November
Planting Months: End February to July

Did You Know...

Preference is a real heritage dahlia, introduced in Holland in 1911 - generations of gardeners have given it their seal of approval, and it has stood the test of time, despite countless newer introductions.

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.

Read our full terms and conditions here.

Delivery: Our standard delivery charges are:

Small box (Orders containing only seedlings or rooted cuttings) £7.20 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £60 inc VAT)
Standard box (Bareroots up to 1.2m) £11.40 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £60 inc VAT)
Large box (Pots up to and incl. 7.5L) £15.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £100 inc VAT)
Trees & Hedging (Bareroots & trees 1.2m+) £18.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £120 inc VAT)
Pallets (Root balls, large pots, trees etc) £60.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £240 inc VAT)

*Surcharges to the Highlands and Islands still apply.

Because couriers sometimes experience delays, we schedule delivery by week, not by day. Therefore, please plan your planting day for the weekend at the end of the delivery week or for the week following delivery, at the earliest.
We will email you the day before your plants are due to arrive.

Payment: We do not charge your card until we begin to prepare your order for packing.

Guarantee: If any plants die within a year, we will replace them. We only ask that you follow our planting & growing instructions and sent us clear photographs of the dead plants in situ, so we can help to make sure that the replacement plants succeed. You only pay for the delivery of the replacements.

Please note that our guarantee is void if there is a hosepipe ban in your area: your newly planted hedging must be watered in dry weather while it is establishing. The best way to water is very thoroughly every few days: at least once a week in summer if there is no heavy rain.

Our nursery has been supplying container grown and bareroot hedging plants to gardeners, farmers and town planners since 1949. Our website started in 2003, so we do understand the concerns that you may have about buying hedging plants online. If any of your plants are damaged when they arrive or if you are otherwise not satisfied with your order after you inspect it, please repackage it and contact us. We will give you a refund or send replacements and send a courier to come and collect the unwanted plants.

Shade	Full Sun
Soil	Good, Well Drained
Colour	Apricot/Orange Shades
Type	Tuber
Also Good	Repeat Flowering, Vase Life
Flowering	Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

	Buy 3 or more plants and save

SIZES	1-2	3+
Tuber	Out of Stock - Ordering Now £4.45	Out of Stock - Ordering Now£3.70
	Prices include VAT

Preference Dahlia Tubers

Dahlia Preference (Decorative)

Preference Dahlias

Great In Your Garden

Features

Did You Know...

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April
Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?

Weekend Wordsearch - Tomatoes & Strawberries

LATEST VIDEO

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Preference Dahlia Tubers

Dahlia Preference (Decorative)

Preference Dahlias

Great In Your Garden

Features

Did You Know...

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?

Weekend Wordsearch - Tomatoes & Strawberries

LATEST VIDEO

Sign up!

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April
Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?