Arbatax Dahlia Tubers

• Variety: Arbatax
• Type: Decorative (small)
• Colour: White petals edged with lilac-pink. The pink deepens as each flower ages
• Flower size: 10 to 12cm (4 to 5in) across
• Height: 90cm
• Spread: 50cm
• Flowering: July to first frosts
• Cutting: Excellent. Ideal size for mixed arrangements, long vase life
• RHS AGM: No
• 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

Arbatax: The Cutting Garden Dahlia with a Watercolour Edge

Arbatax is the dahlia you plant when you want something that blends rather than dominates. The flowers are white with a fine lilac-pink edging on each petal. Not painted on in broad strokes like Cafe au Lait Twist, but delicately lined, almost as if someone ran a watercolour brush along the margins. Named after a small harbour town on the eastern coast of Sardinia, which is a pleasingly obscure provenance for a Dutch-bred dahlia.

As each bloom ages, the pink deepens and spreads inwards. So the overall effect across a plant shifts gently from almost-white newly opened flowers to warmer, pinker older ones. Subtle enough to sit in a pastel scheme without clashing with anything.

The blooms are small by decorative dahlia standards, 10 to 12cm across, which is exactly the size that works best in a mixed arrangement. Dinnerplate varieties can overwhelm a vase. Arbatax slots in alongside cosmos, zinnias, sweet peas and snapdragons without trying to take over. The plant is compact and bushy at 90cm, rarely needs more than a light support, and produces flowers freely from July right through to the frosts.

What to Plant with Arbatax

This is a cottage-garden dahlia, or a dedicated cutting patch dahlia. Partner it with soft pinks and whites: cosmos 'Purity' or 'Candy Stripe', white or blush sweet peas, and pale zinnias all flower at the same time and cut to the same kind of loose, generous bouquet. For darker contrast, the paprika tones of Brown Sugar (a warm ball dahlia with petals darkening towards the centre) at the same height makes a rich companion. The deep plum globes of Cornel, a ball dahlia from the legendary Geerlings nursery in Holland, add both colour depth and a tight geometric shape against Arbatax's softer form.

Why Ashridge?

Our dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded. We reject undersized tubers so you get a clump with viable eyes, ready to grow. Delivered by next-day courier from March, with our one-year plant guarantee, Feefo Platinum Service Award, and gardeners in Somerset on the end of the phone if anything isn't right. Browse our full decorative dahlia range or the complete dahlia collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arbatax a good dahlia for cutting?

One of the best. The 10 to 12cm flower size is far easier to use in mixed arrangements than dinnerplate varieties, the stems are sturdy, and vase life is good. One important detail: dahlia buds don't continue opening after cutting, so always pick flowers that are already fully open. Cut early in the morning and condition the stems in hot water for an hour before arranging.

Will the colour change as the flowers age?

Gently, yes. Newly opened flowers are mostly white with a fine lilac-pink edge. As each bloom ages over several days, the pink deepens and spreads inwards. You'll have a mix of almost-white and warmer-pink flowers on the plant at any one time, which gives a softer, more natural look than a fixed uniform colour.

How does Arbatax compare to the Cafe au Lait dahlias?

Completely different scale. The Cafe au Lait family produces dinnerplate flowers up to 25cm across on plants well over a metre tall, needing serious staking. Arbatax is compact with 10 to 12cm blooms that blend into mixed plantings and arrangements. Drama and scale: Cafe au Lait. Versatile cutter that plays well with others: Arbatax.

Will Arbatax grow in a pot?

At 90cm with small flowers, it's well suited to containers. Use a pot at least 30cm across and deep with rich compost, and feed with a liquid fertiliser every couple of weeks from June. The dahlias in pots guide has more on this.

Are dahlias fragrant?

Not really. You might catch a faint green, earthy note if you press your nose into the centre, but nothing you'd notice in the garden or in a vase. Dahlias earn their place through colour and form. If you want scent in the same border, grow them with late sweet peas, nicotiana or phlox. Planting and aftercare details are in our growing guide.