'Chat Noir' Dahlia Tubers

'Chat Noir' Dahlia Tubers

Chat Noir is a sumptuous cactus dahlia. It's hugely popular for its ruby-red flowers, which are up to 15cm across, almost black at the centre, and silky soft. The spiky petals are pointed, long and narrow, with a slight, undulating upturn toward the tips. The stiff, robust, 1.1m stems are a complementary deep chocolate brown. It makes a wonderful cut flower, lasting well in a vase, and it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Browse our cactus dahlia range.

Garden Design Ideas

Being a tall and stately dahlia, Chat Noir is best grown towards the back of a border, where it'll bring drama and exotic good looks. Combine it with other late-summer stars. It works best in generous groups. Be daring and combine it with other bold colours for a stunning display: think vibrant pinks, copper-oranges, and bright tangerine varieties. It looks sublime with cottage-garden favourites such as Foeniculum vulgare 'Giant Bronze', ruby red sedums, or a veil of ornamental grasses to soften its architectural good looks.

Always grow in full sun, in a big pot, if necessary, with well-drained soil. Stake well in early summer to stop those big exotic flowers flopping.

Features

• Colour: deep wine red, near black at the centre
• Flower size: 12-15cm
• Type: cactus dahlia
• Cutting: yes
• Height/spread: 1.1m x 50cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Planting months: late February to July
• RHS Award of Garden Merit

History & Trivia

To tell a spent dahlia flower from a bud, remember that a spent flower is always conical, whereas an unopened bud is rounded.