Preference Dahlia Tubers

• Variety: Preference
• Type: Semi-cactus
• Colour: Soft apricot-pink with orange centres, petals fading to cream at the tips
• Flower size: 10 to 15cm across
• Height: 120cm
• Spread: 50cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Cutting: Exceptional. Longer vase life than most dahlias, strong stems
• Rain resistance: Good. Semi-cactus form sheds water, and blooms aren't top-heavy
• RHS AGM: No
• Origin: Holland, 1911
• Sold as: Single tubers, hand-graded, Dutch first-class quality
• Plant outdoors: March to July, when soil reaches 15°C (typically May in most of the UK)
• Delivered: From March. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Preference: Introduced in 1911, and Still Outperforming the Competition

Preference was introduced in Holland in 1911. Five monarchs have come and gone since then. Two world wars. Countless newer dahlia varieties have been bred, marketed and forgotten. Preference is still here, still in demand, still in the catalogues. That tells you everything about what this plant does.

The flowers are a soft apricot-pink with orange centres, the long elegant petals fading to cream at their tips. The semi-cactus form means the petals are rolled and quilled rather than flat, giving each bloom an architectural quality that's more interesting than the blowsy openness of a decorative type. At 10 to 15cm across, the flowers are large enough to anchor an arrangement but not so big they overwhelm the vase.

It's a cutting garden darling, and has been for generations. The vase life is noticeably longer than most dahlias, the stems are upright and strong, and because the blooms aren't top-heavy, they handle wet weather better than dinnerplate varieties. The upright habit means you can plant more closely than usual. Pack five together in a cutting bed and you'll have stems to spare from July to November.

Preference in the Border

The soft apricot tones make Preference easy to place. For a warm autumn scheme, plant it behind Ariston (rusty red ball, 100cm) with Brown Sugar (paprika ball, 90cm) at the front. The different flower shapes, spiky semi-cactus against tight spheres, give the border real texture. For a softer scheme, try it with the milky tones of Cafe au Lait behind and the pink-edged whites of Arbatax alongside. Helenium and Rudbeckia are natural late-summer companions in the same warm register.

Why buy from Ashridge?

Our dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded by us. We reject undersized tubers so you get a clump with viable eyes (growth buds), ready to grow. Delivered by next-day courier from March, with our one-year plant guarantee, Feefo Platinum Service Award, and real people on the phone in Somerset. Browse our cactus dahlia range or the complete dahlia collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Preference have such a long vase life?

Two things working in its favour. The semi-cactus petals are rolled rather than flat, so they hold their structure longer than open decorative petals. And the flowers are mid-sized at 10 to 15cm, not so big that they drink the vase dry overnight. Expect six to seven days in water, which is a good two days longer than many dahlia varieties. Cut only fully open blooms and condition stems in hot water for an hour.

Is Preference good in the rain?

Better than most. The semi-cactus petals shed water rather than cupping it the way flat decorative blooms do, and the flowers aren't heavy enough to snap stems in a downpour. It's not rain-proof, nothing is, but it's a sensible choice for the wetter parts of the country. If rain is your main concern, ball and pompon types like Cornel are even more resilient.

Can Preference grow in a pot?

At 120cm it's tall for a container, but the upright, narrow habit (only 50cm spread) means it's more manageable than you'd think. Use a pot at least 35cm across and deep, stake it, and shelter from strong wind. It'll work, but it's really at its best planted in a cutting bed where it can produce masses of stems. Our pots guide has more on what works in containers.

What's a semi-cactus dahlia?

A dahlia with petals that are rolled or quilled for at least half their length, giving the bloom a spiky, textured appearance. Preference's petals are long and elegant with rolled edges, creating a flower that's architectural rather than fluffy. It's different from a full cactus (where petals are rolled along their entire length) and from a decorative (where petals are flat). Our types of dahlias guide explains all the classifications.

How do I overwinter Preference tubers?

After the first frosts blacken the foliage, cut the stems back to about 15cm, lift the tubers carefully, brush off loose soil, and store them somewhere cool, dark and frost-free over winter. Dry them for a day or two first, and check them monthly for rot. Our overwintering dahlias guide covers the whole process step by step.